Morning arrived like a tired pigeon 🐦
Late.
Unimpressed.
And absolutely uninterested in anyone's emotional journey.
The café shutters were half-open ☕
Cold air slipped inside like it didn't ask permission 🌬️
The street was quiet. Too quiet.
Barfi stood outside the café with a small backpack 🎒
Light.
Neat.
Almost empty.
Inside it:
A notebook 📓
A pen ✏️
A sweater 🧥
And nothing else.
No expectations.
No excitement.
No fear.
Just… readiness 😐
A rolling sound broke the silence—
CLACK. CLACK. CLACK.
Miko appeared, dragging a giant suitcase 🧳
It was pink.
It was huge.
It looked heavier than her entire life.
She leaned forward, panting 😮💨
"This… suitcase… hates me…"
Walter stared.
"…Are you moving countries?" 🌍
Miko wiped her forehead 😓
"I packed… just in case."
"In case of what?" Hawk asked flatly 😑
Miko thought for a second 🤔
"…Snowstorm. Kidnapping. Emotional breakdown. Bear attack." 🐻
Walter nodded seriously.
"Valid."
Hawk pinched the bridge of his nose 🤦♂️
"This trip is already a mistake."
Dr. Putin arrived next, calm as ever 🧠
One medical bag 💊
One thermos ☕
One expression that said I have accepted my fate.
Walter jingled the car keys dramatically 🔑✨
"EVERYONE READY FOR THE BEST TRIP OF YOUR LIVES!?"
Hawk's hand shot out instantly ✋💥
And grabbed Walter's wrist.
"No." ❌
"You are NOT driving."
Walter froze.
"…Why?"
Hawk looked him dead in the eye 👁️
"It's a miracle you're alive."
Dr. Putin nodded calmly ✔️
"Statistically speaking, letting you drive reduces our survival rate by seventy percent."
Walter crossed his arms dramatically 😤
"Fine. Grandpa Hawk will drive."
Hawk didn't argue.
That worried everyone.
Car Seating Arrangement Disaster 🚘💥
What followed was ten full minutes of chaos.
"No, I want window seat!" 🪟
"I get motion sickness!" 🤢
"I need leg space!" 🦵
"Why is his bag touching me!?"
Finally, after threats, bribes, and emotional manipulation:
Hawk driving 🚓
Dr. Putin front seat, holding the map 🗺️
Barfi middle back seat 😐
Miko beside him, stiff as a board 😳
Walter squished against the window like a dehydrated parrot 🦜
Walter's cheek was pressed to the glass.
"…I can see my ancestors."
The engine started 🚗💨
The trip began.
Inside the Car — Awkward Silence 😶
The city slowly faded behind them 🏙️
Buildings turned into trees 🌲
Noise turned into wind 🌬️
Miko twisted her fingers nervously 🤍
She leaned slightly toward Barfi.
"B-Barfi-san… are you comfortable?" 😟
"Yes." 😐
"…You can lean on my shoulder if you want." 🤍
"I don't want." 😐
💔
Critical Damage.
Miko stared forward, soul wounded.
Walter whispered loudly from the corner 😏
"Kid… romance! Try romance!"
Hawk snapped instantly 📣
"SHUT. UP."
Walter shrank.
Dr. Putin pretended to study the map very seriously 🗺️😶
Chaos Level 1 — Directions 🧭
Walter leaned forward suddenly 😤
"Hawk, take a left. No—right. No—left-right-left—"
Dr. Putin extended one finger calmly 👉
And pushed Walter back into his seat.
"Please stop talking." 😌
Walter sulked.
Small Progress — Chocolate 🍫
Miko slowly unwrapped a chocolate 🍫
The foil crinkled softly.
She held it out.
"For you." 🤍
Barfi looked at it.
Then at her.
Then took it.
He didn't smile 🙂❌
But he didn't refuse either ✔️
That… mattered.
Miko's eyes lit up ✨
Like she'd just won a silent war.
Chaos Level 2 — Walter's Playlist 🎶💀
Walter grinned suddenly 😈
And connected his phone to the car speaker.
Hawk shouted,
"NO—"
Too late.
The car exploded with sound 🔊💥
🎶 80s love song
🎶 Anime opening
🎶 Heavy metal scream
🎶 Laddu's voice rapping horribly
"YO YO HONEY SINGH IN THE HOUUUUSE—"
Hawk slammed the steering wheel 😡
"TURN IT OFF!"
Walter laughed like a gremlin 😂
Dr. Putin massaged his temples slowly 🧠😮💨
Barfi stared out the window.
"This song is… loud." 😐
Miko smiled softly 😊
"That's your first opinion in days."
Hawk glanced at Barfi through the mirror 👀
Noted it.
Chaos Level 3 — Wildlife 🐺
Fog thickened 🌫️
The road narrowed 🛣️
Trees loomed like shadows 🌲
Dr. Putin checked the map 🗺️
"We should reach the cliff house in thirty minu—"
A wolf crossed the road 🐺
Walter screamed like his soul left his body 😱
Miko gasped 😨
Hawk cursed loudly 🤬
Barfi said calmly:
"That is a dog." 😐
Walter turned feral 😡
"IT IS A WOLF, YOU EMOTIONLESS TOASTER!"
Barfi corrected politely:
"Wolves are dogs." 🐕
Walter almost fainted.
The View — The First Crack 🌄
The fog slowly cleared.
And then—
The world opened.
A massive cliff 🏔️
Clouds drifting below ☁️
Golden light spilling across mountains 🌅
A small wooden cabin standing alone 🏡
Silence.
Real silence.
Miko whispered, breathless 😮💨
"It's… beautiful."
Hawk slowed the car 🚗
Even he stared.
Walter went quiet for once 😶
Dr. Putin watched Barfi closely 👁️
Barfi looked out.
Really looked.
His eyes widened.
Just a fraction.
Barely visible.
But it was there.
Dr. Putin whispered, voice soft with relief:
"He felt something."
Miko turned to Barfi, hopeful 🤍
"Barfi-san… do you like it?"
Barfi stared at the clouds below the cliff ☁️
At the endless sky 🌌
"…It is nice." 😐✨
Miko's heart fluttered 💓
Walter threw his hands up 🎉
"SUCCESS! EMOTION ACHIEVED!"
Hawk parked the car 🚘
And for the first time in many days—
Barfi's face wasn't empty.
Not warm.
Not happy.
But alive.
A tiny spark ⚡
A fragile beginning 🌱