Allure of Darkness!

50. One Chapter Closed!

Author's POV

"Yes, Devi!"
Mikhail looked at her sad face.

"How do you know her?"
She asked suspiciously.

"We met in childhood but she disappeared suddenly and I have been looking for her since then. I found your address after so many difficulties. I just want to meet her once and then I'll leave."
He tried to make her comfortable because she looked scared.

"Gentleman, you can't meet Devi because she is no more!"
She replied and Mikhail's world shook for a moment.

"What?"
He scowled in disbelief.

She sighed tiredly.
"Come inside!"

Mikhail followed her as she sat on the couch tiredly.
"Are you okay, Ma'am?"
He asked as she looked beyond exhausted.

She smiled bitterly.
"You can call me Anjana... Sit!"
She offered him and he took a seat.
"It felt so good to hear about Devi after so many years. Tell me more about her... It feels good."

Mikhail was still processing the shock.
"I don't have much to tell... It's just that we used to talk when we were young but when I came back one summer vacation. She was gone."

She wiped her silent tears.
"She left us at a young age..."

"What happened to her and how?"
He couldn't believe that he was seeing hallucinations of a dead girl.
"She was fine when I used to talk to her."

"Devi had a heart problem and we found out about it when she collapsed in school one day so her father stopped sending her to school, she was very upset about it. We tried everything but we couldn't save her... After her death, my husband started staying lost. After two years I lost him in an accident and was left with nothing so I sold the house and came here... Now my life is just about survival..."
She gulped down the lump in her throat.
"I shouldn't be so emotional in the morning... Would you like some coffee, I'll make some for you..."
She wiped her tears and got up.
"Why don't you talk to Devi till I come back?"

Mikhail looked back towards the direction where Anjana gestured before going to the kitchen.
He noticed the photo frame of Devi and got up.

He looked at the innocent face. She had black thick hair and wheatish skin, her eyes were full of life and happiness. She was wearing the same Micky Mouse t-shirt in the picture which he saw that day.
"So you really had a valid reason to leave..."
A silent tear escaped from his eyes.
"That's not fair, you promised to meet me again."
The candle in front of her frame was lifeless so he lit it.
"Why, Devi?"

"Are you sad, Leo? Don't be! You don't sound good when you are sad."
He looked aside when he saw her illusion but this time he could see her face. It was the same face which was in the picture.

"You broke your promise!"
He complained.

"I am sorry but it was not in my hand... But you finally found me!"
She smiled.
"So I guess, the promise is completed."

"I am sorry!"
He looked at her sadly.

"I am sorry for bothering you but now you know that I am not in this world anymore..."
She came closer and grabbed his hand with her tiny fingers.
"So the guilt of not trying to find me is also dead... Looks like, it's time for me to go."

Mikhail smiled sadly.
"I'll miss you!"

"I'll miss you too but you have your own person..."
She smiled brightly.
"Marona will take care of you... You have your own Devi who is not an illusion... All the best, Leo!"

"Thank you, Devi!"
He wiped his tears.
"Rest in peace!"

She slowly disappeared from his mind and he released a heavy sigh to control his emotions.

"Mikhail?"
Anjana placed the mug down.
"Are you okay?"

"Yeah!"
He wiped his face.
"Thanks for the coffee but I think I should leave now..."

She smiled.
"I can understand that the shock is a big one for you... Take care!"

He nodded and walked out. It was seriously a shock for him and was feeling sad also. It was really unfair that she had to leave the world at a young age.

He opened the car door and sat inside.
"Where to, Sir? "
His bodyguard asked.

"I need my wife. Home! "
Mikhail released a heavy sigh.

Marona was done with her session with one of her patients and decided to lay on the bed as her back was hurting.
She will be six months pregnant in a few days and time flies. It feels like yesterday they got married.

She looked at the clock and sighed while waiting for Mikhail. He had informed her that he has landed in Spain so he should be home by now.

She was worried when he was leaving because she knows that he will come back with something, the feelings which will hurt him.

She closed her eyes but then the door opened and Mikhail entered.
"Welcome back!"
She smiled.

Mikhail looked lost. He took off his jacket and shoes before getting on the bed. Marona wrapped her hands around him as he buried his face in her neck.
"Is something wrong?"

He sighed.
"Devi is no more!"

Marona placed his head on her lap and he closed his eyes as she caressed his head.
"How?"

"She had health issues... I met her mother, Anjana... She sold her house and is now staying in a small house. Probably struggling to survive as she looked too tired and exhausted."
He shook his head.

Marona sighed.
"You were sad, did you see her again?"

"I did but she was there to say goodbye... She said that Marona is my Devi now.. When I am sad, I should come to you..."
He told her everything and she kept caressing his head.

"That wasn't Devi but your mind... You are free from one illusion. How are you feeling? "
She smiled softly.

"I don't know, I am confused... It feels good to know that I am not seeing Devi as an illusion, I was sad the whole flight but she didn't appear so I think it's over now but I am also feeling bad that she died young. She was a smart child, she didn't deserve that. I couldn't even think properly when she told me about her death. I just finished the conversation and left the place. It was feeling suffocating."

Marona could see how heavy he was feeling.
"I know it's sad but you can't do anything in this except one thing."
He opened his eyes and looked at her when she said that.
"Help her mother financially. Maybe Devi's soul will feel good after watching her mother live a better life."

He smiled.
"You are seriously a solution to all my problems."

She smiled when he kissed her cheek.
"So you liked my idea?"

"It's a good thought... The woman has lost her husband too so I think we should help her."
He agreed.

She looked at him proudly.
"Now you should take a good sleep. You look tired."

He nodded and slept while keeping his head on her lap. It felt like heaven for him. She feels relaxed in his mind.

Marona adored his face as she kept caressing him until he fell asleep. She gently placed his head back on the pillow and got up.

She stood on the balcony feeling the relaxing breeze.
"Sorry, Mikhail... You feel good now, the illusion is gone and you will soon forget about your sadness so there is no use of Devi... I think it's good for all of us that I shouldn't disclose that Devi is alive. It's better for all of us."
She sighed and looked at her phone.
"Hello, Mrs. Nair... Yes, he came back home... He is fine and thank you so much for your help. I'll always be grateful for that."

Marona disconnected the call and looked at Mikhail who was sleeping.
"Devi's chapter is closed, now it's time to get rid of Mallika."