90 Days To Live Chapter 12 Chapter - 11 Bus Stop

Dhruv came to an abrupt stop mid-step, his hands diving into his pockets like a man searching for lost treasure. Gorgo, startled by the sudden halt, raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing? You drop something?"

"Hold on, hold on," Dhruv mumbled, patting his jeans as if his pockets were bottomless. After a moment of rummaging, his hand emerged triumphantly, clutching a small, battered stopwatch.

The little device had seen better days. Its once-polished surface was now scratched and tarnished, and the glass covering the face had a tiny crack running through it. But as Dhruv clicked the side button, the stopwatch gave a satisfying tick, and the hands spun back to zero with a smooth motion.

"There it is," Dhruv said, holding it up like it was a prize he'd won in a carnival. He studied the time, muttering to himself as if solving a complex equation.

Gorgo leaned in, squinting at the object in Dhruv's hand. "What is that? Some sort of magical artifact? Does it summon a portal, maybe freeze time, or—I know! Does it summon snacks? Because I could really use a samosa right now."

"It's a stopwatch," Dhruv replied dryly, not bothering to look up.

Gorgo blinked, unimpressed. "A stopwatch? Really? That's it? No spells? No curses? Just a plain old stopwatch?"

Dhruv shrugged, resetting the timer with another click. "Hey, not everything has to be magical to be useful. This little thing's been with me since I was a kid."

"Great. Truly fascinating," Gorgo deadpanned, crossing his arms. "Here I thought I was accompanying a soul with secrets of cosmic importance, and instead, you're carrying around a glorified clock."

Ignoring the sarcasm, Dhruv tucked the stopwatch back into his pocket and looked around the road ahead. "If my calculations are right, we've got about ten more minutes of walking before we hit a bus stop. From there, we should be able to get a ride back to my town."

"Should?" Gorgo repeated, his tone dripping with skepticism. "As in, you're not sure?"

Dhruv shot him a side-eye. "I've walked this path more times than you've been summoned to Earth, demon. I know where I'm going."

Gorgo raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, Mr. Navigator. Lead the way. Just don't blame me when we end up in the middle of nowhere because your magical stopwatch couldn't predict bus schedules."

"It's more reliable than your sense of direction, that's for sure," Dhruv quipped without missing a beat.

Gorgo clutched his chest dramatically, staggering backward as if struck by an arrow. "Such cruelty! Such unwarranted insults! I guide souls across the realms of existence, and this is how you treat me?"

"Yeah, yeah," Dhruv said, waving him off. "Save the theatrics for someone who cares."

They resumed walking, the gravel crunching rhythmically under their feet. The countryside stretched out around them, serene and quiet, the chirping of birds and rustling of leaves providing a calming backdrop. Despite the beauty of the scenery, a faint awkwardness lingered in the air between them.

After a few minutes of silence, Gorgo glanced at Dhruv out of the corner of his eye. "Alright, I've got to ask—what's the story behind that stopwatch? It doesn't exactly scream 'valuable heirloom.'"

Dhruv's steps slowed slightly, and he reached into his pocket to touch the device. His expression softened. "It's not valuable in the way you're thinking. But it's been with me since I was a kid. My dadi gave it to me when I was eight. She said it'd help me keep track of time and not lose myself when I felt like the world was moving too fast."

Gorgo tilted his head, intrigued. "And it worked?"

"Sometimes," Dhruv admitted, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Other times, I just liked clicking the button to hear the sound. It made me feel... grounded."

Gorgo nodded thoughtfully, his usual sarcastic edge replaced by a rare moment of understanding. "Grounded, huh? That's not something I hear often from humans."

Dhruv chuckled, breaking the brief solemnity. "Well, I guess you demons have it easy. No schedules to follow, no exams to fail, no—"

"No parents breathing down your neck?" Gorgo interjected with a knowing grin.

Dhruv laughed, the sound genuine and light. "Exactly."

As they rounded a bend in the road, Dhruv began to hum a tune under his breath. It was faint at first, but it grew louder, and Gorgo's ears perked up.

"Wait a minute," Gorgo said, snapping his fingers. "That's... that's the Shaktimaan theme song, isn't it?"

Dhruv stopped humming, turning to Gorgo with wide eyes. "You know Shaktimaan?"

"Of course I do!" Gorgo exclaimed, puffing out his chest. "I've been watching humans for centuries. The 90s were a golden era for TV. Your superhero shows? Iconic. I learned half my Hindi from them!"

Dhruv stared at him, stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter. "A demon who watches Shaktimaan. Now I've seen everything."

"Laugh all you want," Gorgo said, crossing his arms with mock indignation. "But I bet I can still recite the intro monologue better than you."

Dhruv shook his head, grinning as they continued down the path. For the first time in what felt like ages, he felt a genuine lightness in his chest, as if the weight of his grief had lifted just a little.

Dhruv and Gorgo trudged along the road in companionable silence, the horizon painted with the warm glow of the afternoon sun. After a while, the small bus stop came into view, a modest structure with a wooden bench and a tin roof. A banyan tree stood proudly beside it, its sprawling branches providing shade and an air of quiet refuge.

As they reached the bench, Dhruv let out a small sigh of relief. "Here we are," he said, gesturing to the stop.

Gorgo, now in his human form—a tall, broad-shouldered man with sharp features—examined the stop with mild disdain. "This is it?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Looks like something even termites would think twice about invading."

Dhruv chuckled, plopping down on the bench. "It's not a five-star waiting lounge, but it works. Plus, the banyan tree gives it character."

Gorgo sat down beside him, adjusting his posture awkwardly. "So, what now? When's this magical bus of yours arriving?"

Pulling out his battered stopwatch, Dhruv squinted at the time. "Should be here in about twenty minutes, give or take. Depends on the mood of the driver, really."

"Twenty minutes?" Gorgo groaned, leaning back against the bench and throwing his arms up dramatically. "What am I supposed to do for twenty minutes? Solve world hunger? Compose a symphony?"

Dhruv smirked, leaning back and crossing his arms. "You could always count how many times I ignore your complaints. Or better yet, practice smiling like a normal human. You've got the 'brooding anti-hero' look down, but it's not exactly comforting."

Gorgo shot him a sideways glance. "Funny. Maybe I'll practice by smiling creepily at the driver when he arrives. That'll ensure we get a quiet ride."

"Please don't," Dhruv said, laughing despite himself.

The two sat quietly for a moment, the occasional chirping of birds and rustling of leaves filling the air. Dhruv's gaze wandered to the banyan tree, its thick branches swaying gently in the breeze. A stray dog approached them cautiously, sniffing around before curling up under the shade of the tree.

Breaking the silence, Gorgo cleared his throat. "You know, I've got to say, this whole 'human form' thing is weird. I miss my horns. They gave me character."

Dhruv raised an eyebrow. "You're worried about character? You already look like you walked out of a superhero movie. Just be thankful you don't have to explain glowing eyes and horns to strangers anymore."

"Fair point," Gorgo admitted, though he still seemed mildly disgruntled.

After a few minutes, Gorgo glanced at Dhruv with curiosity. "By the way, what's with that stopwatch? You've been checking it like it's some kind of sacred relic."

Dhruv looked down at the stopwatch in his hand, his expression softening. "It's just... something that belonged to my dadi. I keep it with me. Helps me feel like she's still watching over me."

Gorgo nodded thoughtfully, his usual sarcasm momentarily absent. "I get that. Keeps you grounded."

Before their conversation could continue, the faint rumble of an engine broke the stillness. Dhruv perked up, shading his eyes with his hand as he looked down the road.

"There it is," he said, nodding toward the approaching bus.

The vehicle came into view, an old but sturdy-looking bus with peeling paint and a faint rattle to its movements. As it pulled up to the stop, the driver leaned out of the window, giving them a quick once-over.

"Need a ride?" the driver asked, his voice gruff but not unfriendly.

Dhruv nodded. "Yeah, we're headed to my town."

The driver motioned for them to get on, his gaze lingering briefly on Gorgo, whose imposing frame still seemed larger than life despite his human disguise.

"Come on," Dhruv said, nudging Gorgo.

As they climbed aboard, Gorgo muttered under his breath, "This better be a smooth ride. If this thing breaks down, I'm blaming you."

Dhruv grinned, taking a seat near the back. "Relax, big guy. If it breaks down, we'll just hitch a ride on the next buffalo cart. It'll be an adventure."

Gorgo rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a smirk. With a faint jolt, the bus began to move, carrying them toward their next destination—and, for Dhruv, closer to a long-awaited homecoming.

The bus meandered through the hilly terrain, its tires crunching against the winding road. Outside, the sun bathed the rolling hills in a golden glow, the light dancing over patches of wildflowers and casting long shadows from the dense trees. Dhruv leaned against the window, his chin resting on his palm as he took in the breathtaking scenery. Gorgo, now in human form, sat beside him, looking remarkably at ease for someone who was normally anything but.

"This is gorgeous," Dhruv muttered, mostly to himself, as the bus passed a cascading waterfall that glimmered in the sunlight.

Gorgo nodded subtly, his eyes scanning the vista with mild curiosity. "I'll admit, your world has its charms. Not bad for a realm of mortals."

The hum of the bus and the occasional murmur of passengers were the only sounds as they both quietly appreciated the view. Dhruv felt a rare sense of calm, as if the journey was washing away some of the lingering heaviness in his chest.

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Dhruv broke the silence. He turned to Gorgo, a sly glint in his eyes, and asked in a deliberately casual tone, "By the way, do you have any money?"

Gorgo's serene expression vanished in an instant. He blinked, his brows furrowing as he turned to Dhruv, his face a picture of utter confusion.

"What?" Gorgo said, the single word dripping with disbelief.

Dhruv tilted his head innocently, though the corners of his mouth betrayed a mischievous grin. "You know... money. Cash. Rupees. Something to pay the bus fare with."

For a moment, Gorgo stared at Dhruv as though trying to process the absurdity of the question. Then his face shifted into an incredulous scowl.

"Are you serious?" Gorgo asked, his voice carrying a mix of irritation and exasperation.

Dhruv shrugged, trying to stifle a chuckle. "Well, yeah. I mean, I didn't exactly plan for this whole 'coming back to life temporarily' thing. You'd think my celestial guide might've handled the basics."

Gorgo slapped a hand to his forehead and let out a groan loud enough to draw the attention of a few nearby passengers. "You're unbelievable. Of all the things you could've thought about—food, shelter, money—you thought of none of them?"

Dhruv couldn't hold back his laughter anymore. "Come on, Gorgo. You've been alive for, what, centuries? Surely you've got this covered right??."

Gorgo straightened up in his seat, puffing out his chest like a proud peacock. "Don't worry, mortal. I've got this covered." He reached into the pocket of his coat and dramatically pulled out a small, velvet pouch, holding it up like it contained the secrets of the universe. With a smug grin plastered across his face, he loosened the drawstring and poured its contents into his palm.

A cascade of gleaming gold coins tumbled out, catching the sunlight streaming through the bus windows. Each one looked like it belonged in a museum, with intricate carvings of ancient celestial symbols. Gorgo jingled them in his hand like a victorious gambler. "Behold! One hundred gold coins. This should be enough, right? Heheheh."

Dhruv, who had initially leaned in with mild curiosity, now froze, his jaw slack. He blinked, then squinted at the shiny pile as if trying to confirm that, yes, this idiot really thought gold coins were a viable payment method.

"Are you serious?" Dhruv finally managed, his voice a mixture of disbelief and restrained laughter.

"Of course I am," Gorgo replied, tossing a coin in the air and catching it with a flourish. "This is gold. Mortals love gold. You people write songs about it. You wage wars for it. Surely this will cover whatever measly fare they demand."

Dhruv buried his face in his hands, trying to keep himself from losing it entirely. He peeked through his fingers, his eyes glinting with the mischief of someone about to deliver the ultimate blow. "Okay, genius," he said, his voice trembling with barely-contained laughter. "Where exactly are you planning to exchange that damn gold for actual money?"

The smug grin on Gorgo's face flickered for a second. He tilted his head like a confused puppy, his brow furrowing. "Exchange?" he asked, the word tumbling out slowly, like it was foreign to him.

"Yes, exchange," Dhruv said, leaning in closer, his voice dripping with mockery. "You know, like take your shiny pirate treasure to a bank or a pawn shop or something. Because I don't think the bus conductor is gonna accept your ancient celestial doubloons."

Gorgo blinked, his expression faltering as he processed the revelation. "Wait... I have to exchange these things to get money?" His tone was genuinely baffled, as if someone had just told him gravity was optional.

"Yes, you absolute walnut!" Dhruv burst out, finally giving in to the laughter that had been threatening to explode from him. The sound echoed in the bus, drawing confused glances from the other passengers.

Gorgo's eyes widened, and he clutched the gold coins to his chest like a child refusing to share his toys. "But... but these are solid gold! What mortal in their right mind wouldn't take them? Isn't gold... universal?!"

Dhruv doubled over in his seat, wheezing, barely able to speak. "Universal? What do you think this is, an RPG where every shopkeeper magically wants your loot? News flash, Gorgo: this is Earth. We use money. Actual currency. And no, they don't take gold coins at bus stops!"

Gorgo glanced around nervously, his confidence shattered. He looked like someone who had just realized they'd shown up to a wedding in swim trunks. "This... this system is ridiculous!" he sputtered. "Why would anyone refuse gold? It's shiny! It's valuable! It's... it's..."

"Useless without a buyer, Mr. Ancient Economics," Dhruv quipped, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. "Oh my God, I can't believe I'm stuck with you."

Gorgo huffed, crossing his arms like a sulking teenager. "Well, excuse me for not keeping up with your modern mortal nonsense. Back in my day, gold was all anyone needed."

Dhruv snorted. "Yeah, well, back in your day, people also thought the Earth was flat and bathing was optional."

Gorgo shot him a glare but said nothing, the gears in his head visibly turning as he tried to figure out a solution. Meanwhile, Dhruv continued to chuckle, shaking his head as he muttered, "This is gonna be a long trip..."

Gorgo slumped dramatically in his seat, clutching his pouch of gold coins like a toddler protecting their favorite toy. His face twisted into what could only be described as a cross between despair and constipation. "What shall we do now??" he wailed, looking at Dhruv with the same urgency as someone stuck on a toilet without tissue paper.

Dhruv, who had been staring out the window at the hilly scenery, turned slowly, his expression deadpan. "How would I know??" he shot back, throwing his arms up like he was auditioning for a soap opera.

Gorgo blinked, his jaw dropping slightly. "Aren't you the expert on mortal nonsense? Shouldn't you know how to fix this??"

Dhruv sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Yes, Gorgo, let me just pull out my Official Guide to Fixing Dumb Problems with Demons Who Carry Gold Coins Instead of Money. Oh wait, I left it at home!"

Gorgo's face scrunched up in confusion. "Why would you leave it at home? This feels like a time when you should have brought it!"

Dhruv slapped his forehead, groaning. "It was sarcasm, you walking comedy sketch! No one carries guides for dealing with you!"

"Well, maybe they should!" Gorgo huffed, clutching the pouch tighter. "What kind of society doesn't accept gold as payment anyway? It's gold! The shiny stuff everyone's obsessed with!"

Dhruv leaned closer, lowering his voice as if he was revealing a terrible secret. "Oh, sure, Gorgo. Let me just walk into a Starbucks and pay for a latte with your ancient pirate treasure. I'm sure that'll go over well."

"Pirate treasure?" Gorgo's eyes went wide. "These coins are from the finest celestial mint! They're practically blessed by Yama himself!"

Dhruv stared at him, deadpan. "Oh, great, let's tell that to the bus conductor. I'm sure he'll be thrilled to hear your coins are Yama-approved."

"I don't know what that means, but it sounds like it should work!" Gorgo said, looking hopeful.

Dhruv rolled his eyes so hard they practically did a 360. "Yeah, let's try that. Hey, Mr. Conductor, here's some gold blessed by the god of death! Let me just sit back and watch as he either calls the cops or an exorcist!"

Gorgo frowned, his eyebrows furrowing deeply. "Wait... so you're saying these coins are worthless?"

"Worthless?" Dhruv scoffed, gesturing wildly. "No, Gorgo, they're worth a ton! Just not here, in the middle of nowhere, on a bus where the only currency that matters is cash!"

Gorgo's eyes darted around, panicking. "Cash? Why didn't you tell me we needed cash?!"

"What do you think I've been saying this whole time?!" Dhruv shot back, his voice rising an octave.

Gorgo stared at Dhruv like he'd just discovered a new species of idiot. "So let me get this straight... we're stranded, broke, and your plan is to just sit here and yell at me?"

"Stranded? No, we're moving, genius. It's called a bus," Dhruv said, smirking.

"Don't get smart with me!" Gorgo snapped, his cheeks puffing out like an angry chipmunk.

Dhruv leaned closer, lowering his voice in mock seriousness. "Oh, sure, let me just summon the nearest gold-conversion priest and offer them my firstborn for bus fare. I'm sure that'll solve everything."

Gorgo's mind spiraled into the absurd as he leaned back in his seat. He wasn't just thinking of any scenario—oh no. He was visualizing. The world around him faded, replaced by an ornate, stormy mountaintop temple. A massive altar stood at the peak, adorned with glowing candles and ominous carvings. The sky above was dark, lightning flashing dramatically as thunder roared.

And there was Dhruv.

Draped in flowing red ceremonial robes (which, hilariously, were clearly stitched together from bus seat covers), Dhruv stood at the altar with a solemn expression. In his hands, he cradled a swaddled baby. But not just any baby—oh no. This baby had Dhruv's face.

"I, Dhruv, the mighty!" he declared in a voice so deep and echoing it was laughable, "offer my firstborn child to the gods of public transportation to pay my eternal debt!"

The wind howled, as if the universe itself objected.

Gorgo imagined himself standing to the side of this ridiculous scene, shackled like a helpless bystander. "No, Dhruv! Don't do it!" he yelled, tears streaming down his face. "Think of the baby! He has your terrible haircut and everything!"

But Dhruv was unmoved. He lifted the baby high above the altar, the swaddle unraveling slightly to reveal that the baby was holding… a tiny replica of the same stopwatch from earlier.

"Silence, Gorgo!" Dhruv boomed, his voice dramatic enough to belong in a low-budget fantasy film. "This is the only way! The gods demand it! The bus fare must be paid!"

The baby started wailing—an impossibly deep, baritone cry that reverberated across the mountaintop. Lightning struck the altar as the baby floated higher, spinning slowly in the air, while a spectral image of the bus driver from earlier appeared in the storm clouds.

The bus driver's ghostly voice boomed, "PAYMENT ACCEPTED!"

Gorgo snapped out of his vivid daydream with a jolt, his face frozen in pure horror. He turned to Dhruv, who was casually staring out the window, oblivious to the existential crisis playing out in Gorgo's imagination.

"You okay there, buddy?" Dhruv asked, raising an eyebrow.

Gorgo grabbed his shoulders. "Promise me something."

"What?"

"Promise me you'll never—never—sacrifice your baby for a bus ticket."

Dhruv froze, blinking at Gorgo like he'd just been asked if cows could fly. "No, Gorgo, I don't have a firstborn. Who do you think I am, some middle-aged accountant?"

"Well, you do have that stressed-out vibe," Gorgo muttered under his breath.

Dhruv glared at him. "Stressed-out vibe? Are you seriously roasting me right now, gold hoarder?"

"Better a gold hoarder than a broke mortal!" Gorgo shot back, sticking out his tongue.

Dhruv stared at him for a moment, then burst out laughing, loud and uncontrollable, clutching his stomach. The other passengers turned to look at them, and one old lady whispered something to her companion, pointing at the duo like they were escaped lunatics.

"Okay, okay," Dhruv finally gasped, wiping tears from his eyes. "We'll figure this out. Maybe I'll pawn your gold at some shady shop. Or, I don't know, we can trade it for bananas and hope the bus conductor is a monkey in disguise."

Gorgo blinked. "A monkey... bus conductor? Do humans actually—"

"It's a joke, Gorgo!" Dhruv interrupted, smacking his own forehead.

"Well, your jokes are terrible," Gorgo muttered, crossing his arms with a pout.

"Yeah, well, so is your grasp on modern civilization," Dhruv shot back, grinning.

The two of them fell into an awkward silence, their laughter simmering down, but every time they looked at each other, Dhruv couldn't help but snicker, and Gorgo couldn't help r.