Dhruv awkwardly took a seat, though it was less of a chair and more of a throne carved out of skulls. He adjusted himself, trying not to look at the ominous decor, as Gorgo handed him a goblet.
"Uh, thanks... I think." Dhruv took a sip, then winced. "Whoa! This is... spicy! What is this, ghost pepper juice?"
Yamaraj, still on edge, nodded vigorously. "Nectar, yes! A special blend just for esteemed guests. Very refreshing... right?"
Dhruv coughed. "Yeah, if I was trying to impress someone by swallowing lava. You guys ever heard of, like, tea? Maybe some lemonade?"
Gorgo, who had been trying to blend into the background to avoid more drama, couldn't help but snicker. "Oh, sorry! The underworld isn't exactly known for its beverage variety. It's either spicy nectar or, uh, 'Inferno Punch,' but trust me, you don't want that."
Dhruv blinked. "Inferno Punch? How is that different from this?"
Gorgo scratched his head, thinking. "Well... Inferno Punch sets your soul on fire for ten minutes. It's a party favorite, honestly."
Dhruv just shook his head, exasperated. "Okay, I'm not trying to light anything on fire, alright? Not myself, not you, not this feather." He waved it in the air.
Yamaraj flinched at the sight. "Please, put that away!" His voice cracked slightly. "I-I mean... we're all friends here, right? No need for feathers."
Gorgo couldn't hold back his curiosity. He leaned in and whispered to Dhruv, "So, uh... did you actually meet... him? The big guy? You know, the one who hands out feathers?"
Dhruv stared blankly, shrugging. "I met a guy in a suit who gave me this feather and a banana. He never said who he was, just talked a lot about my regrets and how I needed to fix things. I swear he was messing with me. Who even gives someone a banana in the afterlife?"
Yamaraj's eyes widened even more. "The banana! Of course! The symbol of... of divine fruitfulness." He slapped his forehead. "Oh, we're doomed."
Gorgo, baffled, muttered, "A banana? Divine fruitfulness? I thought bananas were just... you know, bananas."
Dhruv chuckled, shaking his head. "This is the weirdest place I've ever been. And that includes the time I got lost in a theme park haunted house."
Yamaraj, trying to regain a shred of his lost dignity, stood up and cleared his throat. "Alright, alright. Enough about the feather and the fruit. You're here because you need something, yes? You want to get rid of... the arrows, correct?"
Dhruv perked up. "Yes! Finally, someone who's talking sense. These metaphorical arrows are apparently keeping me from some afterlife bliss, and I need to fix that."
Yamaraj nodded gravely, though there was still a flicker of fear in his eyes. "Indeed. But I must warn you, the task ahead won't be easy. You'll need to fulfill certain conditions, as... 'he' mentioned."
Dhruv, sighing, nodded. "Right, right. Ninety days to make things right. No telling anyone about my death. An assistant of death tailing me. And apparently, I'm immortal during this time?" He scratched his head. "Wait, what happens if I mess up?"
Yamaraj hesitated, then leaned in, whispering, "If you fail... well, let's just say I might end up being forced to—" he gulped, "—return to my old ways. And believe me, I really don't want to go back to that life. I even started a gardening club to relax!"
Gorgo piped up, "Yeah! Boss grows chrysanthemums now. It's actually kind of nice."
Dhruv raised an eyebrow. "Yamaraj, the feared god of death, grows flowers?"
Yamaraj straightened up, attempting to look dignified again. "Yes, and they're the finest chrysanthemums in all of the underworld. I even won a prize at the Underworld Gardeners' Association last year. First place."
Gorgo whispered, "It was second place, actually. But no one's brave enough to tell him that."
Yamaraj shot Gorgo a glare, and Gorgo quickly pretended to zip his lips.
Dhruv sighed, smiling. "Alright, gardening aside, I'll take up the challenge. Just tell me what I need to do."
Yamaraj nodded, seemingly relieved. He clapped his hands, and a scroll materialized in mid-air. He handed it to Dhruv. "This is a map of sorts. It'll help guide you in fulfilling your mission on Earth. And remember, you are under divine watch, so no messing about."
Gorgo added, "Yeah, and if you break the rules... well, let's just say Yamaraj here gets his power back and might have to do something unpleasant." He shivered at the thought. "So please, for my sake, do your best."
Dhruv took the scroll, standing up. He glanced at the two of them—Yamaraj, still trying to look regal, and Gorgo, nervously picking at his horns—and couldn't help but grin. "You two are quite the pair. Don't worry, I'll do my best. No need for anyone to lose their job or ruin their gardening club."
Yamaraj nodded, sighing. "Thank you. And remember, no bananas in the underworld. Too much symbolism."
Dhruv, with a bemused smile, gave them a wave before stepping toward the portal that shimmered into existence once more. He glanced back one last time, shaking his head. "Weirdest day of my life, and I've already died once."
As he vanished through the portal, Yamaraj collapsed into his throne, exhausted. He looked at Gorgo. "We need a vacation after this."
Gorgo, wide-eyed, nodded in agreement. "Boss, I think we both do."
Yamaraj, after calming down slightly, straightened his posture and looked at Gorgo. "Gorgo, I have a new mission for you. You're going to accompany Dhruv and make sure everything goes smoothly. You know, as a guide… and a watcher."
Gorgo's face fell faster than a stone in a pond. "Wait, WHAT?! Me? Accompany him? Uh, boss, you know... I just remembered I have this, uh, extremely urgent dentist appointment—"
Yamaraj's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Gorgo. You're going. Or else, I'll demote you to cleaning Bull's stable for the next millennium."
Gorgo visibly shuddered. Cleaning the Bull's stable was infamous in the underworld, especially since the big guy had… let's just say, an "unstable" stomach. "Alright, alright, I'll go! But... can I at least have a last wish?"
Yamaraj, tapping his foot impatiently, sighed. "Make it quick, Gorgo."
Gorgo clasped his hands together dramatically, "I just want to see my girlfriend one last time! Please, boss!"
Yamaraj rolled his eyes. "Fine. Go. But if you're not back in five minutes, I'll send the hounds."
Gorgo gulped, then ran off like a bat out of, well, the underworld.
Gorgo hurried through the winding corridor until he reached a small room decorated with spiked decorations, glittery hearts, and posters of "The Fiery Five," the latest underworld boyband. He knocked gently, and the door swung open to reveal his girlfriend, Zilda—a demoness with fiery red hair and an impressive collection of spiked accessories.
She looked up and beamed. "Gorgo, my love! You're back! I was just sharpening my pitchfork. What's going on?"
Gorgo rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, looking like a guilty puppy. "Hey, Zilda… I've got some bad news."
Zilda's eyes narrowed. "If you tell me you're ditching our date night again, I swear I'll—"
"No, no, it's worse than that," Gorgo interrupted. "Yamaraj is making me go with some mortal to guide him. You know, like a babysitter. Except this time, I might actually die."
Zilda's jaw dropped. "WHAT?! How dare he! Doesn't he know we've finally planned a romantic night at the Lavafall Lounge? I've been waiting 300 years for you to actually commit to a date!"
Gorgo looked genuinely heartbroken. "I know, babe, I know. I wanted to be there! I even bought a new tie—the one that glows in the dark!"
Zilda's expression softened slightly, her fiery glare cooling. "You did? The glowy one?"
"Yeah…" Gorgo sighed dramatically. "But now I've got to babysit this guy, or Yamaraj will have me cleaning his bull's stable for eternity. And you know how that big guy gets after eating those enchanted beans."
Zilda shuddered at the thought. "Alright, alright. But promise me this—when you're back, we're going to that lounge. No more excuses!"
Gorgo saluted her. "I promise, babe. I'll even bring you a souvenir from the mortal world. Maybe, uh… I don't know, a pet hedgehog or something?"
Zilda raised an eyebrow. "A hedgehog? Do you think I'm some softie?"
Gorgo grinned sheepishly. "Of course not! But, you know, one with spikes. Like, a demon hedgehog. Shoots fire. It'll be perfect."
Zilda's lips curled into a smile. "Alright, deal. Now go, before Yamaraj sends the hounds."
Gorgo leaned in for a quick kiss, then sprinted back down the corridor, yelling, "I'll be back soon, my spiky goddess!"
As Gorgo approached Dhruv and Yamaraj, he muttered under his breath, "Why am I always the one stuck with babysitting duty? All I wanted was one romantic night…"
Yamaraj, arms crossed, glared at Gorgo. "You're late."
Gorgo gave a nervous chuckle. "Yeah, yeah, let's get this over with before I end up shoveling enchanted bull… leftovers.
Gorgo then entered the portal with tears in his eyes..
Dhruv stepped through the portal, and the scenery changed instantly. Gone were the ominous skull thrones and dark halls of the underworld. Instead, he found himself standing in a bustling market square.
"Whoa, okay, sensory overload," Dhruv muttered, blinking as a stray chicken ran past, followed by a child wielding a net and yelling something about "dinner." He turned to see Gorgo appear beside him, looking disoriented.
Gorgo groaned, "Ugh, every time I go through one of those portals, it feels like my insides get scrambled." He looked around and instantly frowned. "This is Earth? Why is it so... bright?"
Dhruv shrugged, "Welcome to Earth. Where things are not set on fire—most of the time." He waved the feather in front of Gorgo's face playfully. "And if you keep complaining, I'll set up an impromptu barbecue."
Gorgo swatted the feather away, scowling. "No feathers, remember? And what's with all these chickens running around? Why are they so... not evil?"
Dhruv couldn't help but chuckle. "They're chickens, man. Their only crime is trying to escape being dinner."
Gorgo narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the nearest chicken, who clucked innocently back at him. "I dunno, I think they're up to something."
As Dhruv and Gorgo continued down the bustling market street, Gorgo suddenly stopped and looked around, his expression shifting from relaxed to wary. "Okay, we need to do something about my appearance before we go anywhere else."
Dhruv raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with the way you look? You're a fine specimen of demonhood!" He gestured dramatically at Gorgo's spiky horns and rugged features.
Gorgo shot him a pointed look. "Yeah, fine if you want to scare off all the street vendors. But I can't go around like this! I'll end up attracting all the wrong attention."
"Like a demon magnet?" Dhruv teased.
"More like a walking horror show. Just watch!" Gorgo declared dramatically, throwing his hands in the air. With a flick of his wrist, he began to transform.
In an instant, the most hideous demon turned into the most handsome man Dhruv had ever seen. Gorgo stood there with chiseled features, perfect hair, and an irresistible smile that could charm the pants off anyone.
Dhruv's jaw dropped. "Whoa! What just happened? You look like you should be on the cover of 'Demonlicious Monthly'!"
Gorgo flashed a grin, running a hand through his perfect hair. "Told you! The beauty of demonic shapeshifting, my friend. I'm the life of the party now!"
"Or the death of the party for all the other demons!" Dhruv laughed. "Seriously, you could sell tickets to this transformation! But how do you even manage that?"
Gorgo shrugged nonchalantly. "A bit of practice and a lot of insecurities. Just like a makeover show—except I'm the only contestant!"
Dhruv shook his head, still in shock. "And here I thought I was going to be the one making a fashion statement with my new scarf."
"Pfft, that thing?" Gorgo scoffed, gesturing at the scarf. "Please, it looks like it's just waiting for someone to spill grape juice on it. It's got infinite warmth, but zero style."
Dhruv rolled his eyes, attempting to tie the scarf around his neck like a runway model. "Well, at least it's not hiding my face, unlike you."
Gorgo placed a hand over his heart in mock offense. "You wound me! This face is my best feature!"
"Not with those spiky horns, buddy. You looked like a demon who just lost a fight with a cactus!" Dhruv shot back, laughing.
"Hey! They're stylish!" Gorgo huffed, poking one of his horns. "But fine, I'll go back to my original form if you can handle all the attention I'm going to get now."
"Please don't. I can only deal with one embarrassing demon at a time," Dhruv replied, glancing around at the crowd that was starting to take notice of the handsome figure Gorgo had become.
"Don't worry; I'll keep my distance." Gorgo winked and then started strolling through the market, flashing smiles at the passing vendors, who responded with dreamy sighs.
As they walked further, Gorgo noticed a group of girls giggling and whispering to each other as they pointed in his direction. "See? I'm a hit!" he exclaimed proudly.
"Yeah, with the charm of a hundred demons! But what happens when they realize you're still just a demon?" Dhruv laughed.
"Then I'll say it's a thematic costume party!" Gorgo responded, striking a ridiculous pose, flexing his nonexistent muscles.
Dhruv couldn't stop laughing as they continued through the market. "You're going to get us into all sorts of trouble, aren't you?"
"Absolutely! But at least we'll look good doing it!" Gorgo winked again, drawing even more attention.
As they strolled, Gorgo dramatically turned to Dhruv. "I feel like I should start signing autographs. 'Gorgo the Handsome: Destroyer of Hearts and Also Souls!'"
Dhruv shook his head, chuckling. "Let's just focus on the task at hand, celebrity. We need to find something that won't cause a riot in the underworld."
"Fine, fine," Gorgo relented, though a playful grin still lingered on his face. "But I'm totally keeping the handsome look. Just wait until Yamaraj sees me! He'll be too busy fawning over me to give you grief!"
"Great, just what I need—my guide being mistaken for the new underworld heartthrob." Dhruv laughed, shaking his head. "But hey, at least it'll keep Yamaraj distracted while I figure this whole 'fixing my fate' thing out."
They shared a laugh as they navigated the vibrant market, ready for whatever absurdity awaited them next.
As Dhruv and Gorgo walked deeper into the market, the smell of spices and freshly baked bread wafted through the air. Dhruv's stomach growled, reminding him of the fact that he hadn't eaten anything in hours.
"Hey, can we get some food first?" Dhruv asked, pointing at a stall with sizzling skewers of meat. "I'm pretty sure I can't fix my fate on an empty stomach."
Gorgo eyed the stall skeptically. "You mean eat that? It smells way too good to be anything decent." He sniffed the air cautiously. "Do humans really eat this stuff?"
"Do demons not eat?" Dhruv raised an eyebrow.
"We do. But it's mostly things like despair and chaos... and occasionally tacos on Tuesdays," Gorgo said nonchalantly, as if it were the most obvious answer in the world.
Dhruv laughed. "Well, consider this your introduction to fine earthly cuisine." He gestured to the vendor. "Two skewers, please!"
The vendor, a plump man with a friendly smile, handed them the skewers, and Dhruv paid with a few coins he had in his pocket. He handed one to Gorgo, who eyed it like it might attack him.
Dhruv took a big bite, savoring the flavors. "Mmm, this is the good stuff. Come on, try it."
Gorgo tentatively took a bite, his eyes widening in surprise. "Whoa... it's... it's actually amazing!" He took another bite, and then another, devouring the skewer. "Why didn't anyone tell me human food was this good?"
Dhruv grinned. "You've been missing out, my friend. There's more to Earth than just chaos and despair."
Gorgo nodded, finishing his skewer. "Alright, I admit it. Maybe this place isn't so bad after all. But don't get too comfortable. You got a mission mortal, remember?"
"Right, right." Dhruv finished his skewer and wiped his hands on a napkin.
Gorgo looked at Dhruv, his expression softening for a moment. "So, where do you wanna go now?" he asked, breaking the silence that lingered after their encounter with the spirit.
Dhruv stared at the amulet in his hand, the glow reflecting in his eyes. He took a deep breath, and his gaze shifted to the distance, as if looking far beyond the market, far beyond their current surroundings.
"There is a place..." Dhruv's voice trailed off, and a sudden wave of memories washed over him, ones he hadn't let himself remember in a long time.
He could see her in his mind—a small, fragile woman with a warm smile and gentle hands that were always there to guide him when he was lost. His grandmother. Her voice echoed in his ears, a soft whisper that seemed to come from deep within him. "Take care of yourself, my dear... and remember, you're never truly alone, no matter where you go."
Dhruv clenched the amulet tightly, his eyes beginning to sting. He could almost see her, standing by the doorway of their old home, her eyes filled with warmth and love, even as she knew she was fading. The way she always hummed a soft lullaby when the nights were too cold, the stories she told him of a world where spirits and gods roamed the earth—those memories came rushing back, sharp and clear.
She had been everything to him—his anchor when the world felt too heavy, his light when the darkness crept too close. And yet, he hadn't been there when she needed him most. He hadn't been there to hold her hand in those final moments, to say goodbye, to let her know just how much she meant to him. It was a regret that had weighed on his heart, a regret that had never truly left.
Dhruv swallowed hard, his voice breaking. "There is a place... I need to visit," he whispered, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "My grandmother's house. I never got the chance to go there after her death...."
Gorgo watched Dhruv, the usual snark fading from his face as he saw the pain in his companion's eyes. He gave a small nod, his voice surprisingly gentle. "Then that's where we'll go."
The old woman at the stall, who had been watching them in silence, seemed to understand without words. Her eyes, which had seemed so sharp and calculating before, softened, and she spoke quietly. "The ones we love never truly leave us, young one. Carry her memory with you, and she will always be by your side."
Dhruv nodded, his throat too tight to speak. He turned away from the stall, his heart heavy with the weight of all the words he had never spoken, all the moments he could never get back. As they walked away, the bustling noise of the market seemed distant, muted, as if the world around him had faded into the background.
He could feel Gorgo's presence beside him, a silent support that he hadn't expected but was grateful for. For once, the demon didn't make a joke, didn't try to lighten the mood. He simply walked beside Dhruv, letting the silence stretch between them, a silence filled with unspoken grief and a longing that could never be fulfilled.
The path ahead felt long, and the journey felt uncertain. But for now, there was a place Dhruv needed to be—a place where he could finally face the echoes of the past, where he could sit in the quiet corners of that old home and say the goodbye that had been left unsaid for far too long.
-To Be Continued