Play In Darkness (Eng/END)

54: I'll Be Your Hero Once Again

Everything was over when his soul was taken away by vain.

I'm no longer the same

My eyes stared at him, who loved me with his body and soul that broke through the ages for me.

Is there still a feel left for him in my heart?

If so, let that taste come.

Let me step forward with him by my side.

By @ShellyferND

***

The sunlight pouring in through the window fell on Delisha's face, making her open her eyes and winced in light. Delisha brushed off the light with her palm and stretched, taking a deep breath. “I must be dreaming,” she muttered, rubbing her views.

Fatigue and sadness usually make sleep uncomfortable, but last night she slept very soundly and felt, even saw Imdad on the side accompanying her to sleep. They say that the spirit of a person who has just passed is sometimes present to meet their loved ones for 40 days after the person died. Or it could be just an expression of her longing and guilt. Imdad left her earlier when she was planning to leave the man, worst, to go after Devdas. “Stupid!” Delisha patted her forehead and cursed herself.

She reached for the cell phone on the nightstand, looking at 09:48 AM local time. She is now the CEO of Xin India. Going to the office need not be on working hours like regular employees. She felt energized. She got out of bed and rushed to take a shower. After taking a sprinkle, wearing a white blouse covered in a black blazer and black trousers, Delisha was getting ready to go to the office. The breakfast that Auntie had prepared emphasized. She didn't meet Rani because the kid had already gone to school. Next, she drove to the Xin India office. On the way, she called Vijay Sharma. “Vijay, prepare data on Anjali, Aftab and Anjali's husband, Rahul Mukherjee, and the data on the cases that were accused of Mr. Mukherjee. Yes, as soon as possible!” She said firmly and then hung up.

Arriving in Xin India, Vijay greeted her with several file folders. “Miss, sorry I asked, are you sure you are ready to work again? Mr. Imdad had just ....”

“Mr. Vijay, corporate and stock market affairs are not waiting for me to finish my grieving,” Delisha interrupted as she took the folder from Vijay's hand and continued to stroll toward her office. She stopped when she passed in front of Imdad's office. The image of the man sitting at the desk playing the bronze coin in his fist caused Delisha's chest tighten. “It is at times like these that business rivals are taking advantage of the situation to put pressure on Xin India,” Delisha went on as she walks, “I will not let my personal problems bankrupt the company and caused you lose your jobs.”

Vijay looked down, embarrassed while accompanying Delisha's steps. “I'm sorry, Miss Marianne,” he mumbled.

“Don't call me Marianne again, Mr. Vijay. Call me Delisha. My real name is Delisha Lee Andrews, and I am the CEO of Xin India.”

Vijay gasped for a moment, then immediately gathered his consciousness. “Yes, miss!” he replied quickly. He escorted Delisha into her room and stood at the table, while his new boss read the file.

Without looking up from the file, Delisha declared, “Mr. Vijay, arrange my meeting with Rahul Mukherjee.”

“Yes, miss!” said Vijay, although a little hesitant, he left Delisha's room to carry out her orders.

Rahul Mukherjee is a 30-year-old man with a bright future. A coal mining entrepreneur and young aspiring politician. Many of his family and relatives are involved in politics, as members of parliament in important positions, and some have even become ministers. Unfortunately, now Rahul and his extended household are in turmoil because of the murder of Rahul's wife, Anjali.

An hour after Delisha sent Vijay, she could meet Rahul Mukherjee and his lawyer. Delisha was accompanied by Vijay, who stood behind her without taking off his sunglasses. They met in a 3×3 meter windowless room used to interrogate suspects, with gray floors and walls. The stuffy smell and faint incandescent lamps were the only lights.

The man with the thick mustache glanced scornfully at Delisha, while the lawyer standing behind him looked calm. “What a surprise, there are still those who want to meet a criminal like me. Aren't you from Xin India and a former lover ... oh, sorry, late Imdad Hussain's lover? I don't know about his death but frankly I ... don't grieve.”

Delisha laughed casually and crossed her legs behind the rectangular table between them. “I can understand your dislike of the former CEO of Xin India, Mr. Mukherjee, what is more about the case you are in now. I don't expect you to like me either, but I will help you restore your reputation,” Delisha said, glaring at him.

“Can you get me off the murder charge?” Rahul asked so excitedly that he almost jumped out of his chair.

“Yes, exactly!”

Rahul's lawyer spoke in a voice lowered to the man's ear. “Sir, this is our only chance, the earlier you are free, the sooner we will restore the Mukherjee family's condition, sir!” Rahul's forehead frowned in thought for a few seconds then he glanced back at Delisha, this time with a more respectful look.

“Fine, I will, but what conditions do you want?” asked Rahul.

“Cooperate with me, obey all my directions.”

Rahul looked back doubtfully at Delisha and the woman laughed again arrogantly, in contrast to her sweet innocent face.

“Don't worry, Mr. Mukherjee, I won't bring up things against you,” said the woman casually, “but if you don't comply me of course there will be consequences. Being in prison has certainly given you valuable experience, has not, sir. Mukherjee? I can release you from prison, which means I can also return you to jail, and in the worst-case scenario we can put you to death for it.” She has a list of sadistic sins that the felon has yet to find. Putting Rahul Mukherjee as the wrongdoer is easy.

“What shall I do, miss?” Rahul asked resignedly.

“Inform your relatives in parliament reject all applications for land clearing and mining permits submitted by Star Corp. If they refuse, notify me your situation. If they are afraid of Star Corp's threats, tell them I will make their conditions worse. Don't ask what if they don't want to experience it. In short, it's not Star Corp they have to worry about, it's me, Delisha Lee Andrews, CEO of Xin India.”

Rahul's saliva caught in his throat. He did not expect the woman in front of him to threaten him in such a way. “W-when-when are you going to release me?”

“After you give me the good news, then very soon you will be free, Mr. Mukherjee,” Delisha replied as she rose from her armchair. The woman turned and left the room. “I will not come to a place like this twice, Mr. Mukherjee, please take your chance before I look for someone else,” she announced with her back to Rahul.

“Yes, yes, miss, I will immediately carry it out!” said Rahul, half shouting from his chair. The woman did not answer, only the sound of a closed door answered him.

Rahul punches the table. “Call my father and uncle immediately! Order as Miss Delisha stated, deny all matters relating to the interests of Star Corp,” he told his lawyer.

***

All afternoon Devdas shut himself in his study. When the sun was already on the western horizon, Sanjay ventured into the room because he was worried about his boss's condition. He was surprised to see the messy condition of the room, especially seeing Devdas curled up under the table like a bum on the side of the road. "Good grief, Mr. Devdas!" exclaimed Sanjay anxiously and hurried over to Devdas. Devdas seemed to have just opened his eyes languid, reluctant to get up.

Sanjay did not think that the usually merciless man now looked pathetic because his heart was broken, making him shake his head. He must immediately make his boss aware and face reality. "Sir, you can't go on like this," he coaxed. "Many things have happened, Sir. Golden Charta in Indonesia has gone bankrupt and CEO Edward Chen is dead. Sir, the company is getting ready to be acquired, this is our chance ...."

"I do not care!" snapped Devdas and he still didn't budge from the floor, enjoying his position plunged into loneliness and despair, while Sanjay stood looking sadly at him.

"Sir, the company is waiting for your decision and the situation is very urgent. The application for the sector IV mining permit that Mukherjee previously owned is now in the hands of Star Corp, sir, we only need your signature before submitting it to the board members," said Sanjay, squatting beside Devdas and opens the folder containing the files that Devdas must sign. The pen faced Devdas.

"I don't care…," Devdas replied without turning to the file that Sanjay had submitted.

Sanjay took the pen and file in his hand and sighed in resignation. "Sir, if you are sad like this because of Miss Marianne Webster, I suggest you get up quickly. The lady is apparently a secret agent. She has another identity. Now she is Delisha Lee Andrews. She is tricky, sir! She is only concerned about her company and money. The Xin India company is in danger of going bankrupt due to the death of CEO Imdad Hussain and Miss Delisha being appointed as CEO of Xin India. Xin India will need the support of a big company like Star Corp. Isn't this the right time for you to show your power, sir? approached Miss Delisha on the grounds of corporate interest."

Sanjay's words made the light of hope in Devdas' eyes flare up again. He immediately got up from the floor. "Ouch !!" Devdas screamed in pain because his head hit under the table. He stood up, rubbing his head and staring at the shawl he's been holding all day. "You're right," he said to Sanjay, then walked out of his study. Sanjay follows Devdas.

"Prepare my clothes!" Devdas said. He went to his room and took a shower to freshen up. He must always be ready in case the new CEO of Xin India needs his help. Finally, there is one more chance to become a hero for Chandni.

Seeing Devdas looking excited made Sanjay shout with clenched fists, "Cheer up, boss!"

***

Taking advantage of her ability to penetrate people's bodies, Maya often uses the bodies of half-drunk women in nightclubs. She enjoyed drinking and dancing, also seducing men but did not spend the night in bed, because all the men she met were not as attractive as Devdas or Imdad. Even as a ghost, she still has a high taste for men. After all, she did not have the heart to give up the body of the woman she possessed for just any man. It's different if the woman does it on her own.

It was not too late when she returned to the residence of the CEO of Xin India. She staggered into a drunken manner through fences, trees, and walls. No matter how much liquor that enters her body will only make her drunk when in the body that she possessed. When she returned to the ghost phase, the hangover just disappears without a trace.

Arriving at Delisha's room, she gasped to see a golden glowing figure standing in the middle of the room, staring at Delisha's empty bed. She decided to greet the new figure in the room. "Oh, who is this?" Maya stepped around the figure and looked at him in amazement. "Imdad Hussain!" she exclaimed happily.

The figure in a military vest over a black T-shirt and baggy pants and high-knee boots folds his arms across his chest and stares back with his chin raised. "Ah, we finally met, Miss Maya!" replied Imdad who was now in the same dimension as the ghost Maya.

"You ... became a ghost?" Maya asked in surprise. She is a ghost and as far as she knows the ghost does not have a radiant appearance like Imdad.

"Hmm, well, as you can see."

"Does Delisha know?"

Imdad turned away from Maya's gaze. "She doesn't know. I don't want her to know. She quickly got over her sadness and focused on getting on with work, I didn't want to bother her. Besides, she wanted me to forget about her."

"But, why are you ...."

"Delisha was always in danger. From a young age someone wanted to get rid of her. I just wanted to protect her, but looking at my situation now I realize I won't be of much help. I don't know exactly, but I think her life has something to do with Devdas. She sometimes mentions reincarnation and immortal from the past as well as a man named Rajputana Udai Singh. I feel Rajputana Udai Singh is me. "

Imdad then recounted the incident he experienced after his spirit left the body.

On that night, Imdad's spherical spirit of light floated in the air along the mountains that stretched across the border of India and the surrounding country, including the Himalayas. At the top of the Himalayas, he saw a white light and was drawn towards it. The white light was apparently coming from the eye-shaped stick head held by a woman with long silver hair. The woman's face, skin, and hair also her white dress emitted a soft white light. The woman sat on the back of a white horse with a pair of wings and a single horn.

"Stop, you mortal!" admonished the woman with the beautiful face and the complexion of a teenager.

The chill of the mountain peak could freeze a human being in a matter of minutes, but for him and the woman, it was just an ordinary breeze.

The life energy of Imdad, who was still weak, began to change into a human form just like when he was still alive, complete with the clothes he last wore, but without a scar that hurt his body. He also did not feel pain and his material was as light as cotton, but he did not float in the wind. Both feet stepped on the snow. "I'm dead, shouldn't I go to the realm of death? I don't know where it is, it's pitch black around me and your light that drew me here," said Imdad quietly because he was confused and felt his body was somehow, vulnerable.

The woman c****d her head. "You think you're dead? You don't seem to know yourself," she said curtly and then jerked her horse with her feet so that the white horse turned its back on Imdad. "Get out of here, this is no place for you, young man!"

"Wait, don't go yet!" said Imdad and hurried after the woman on the white horse. "What is this place exactly?"

The woman stopped her horse and turned back to face Imdad. "This is the gateway to nirvana for lost souls." The silver-haired woman explained, “This door can only be opened by the holder of the key. She who should bring these lost spirits back to nirvana to find peace and eternal rest. "

Imdad gets worried. "Am I one of the lost spirits?" asked Imdad.

The woman snorted sarcastically. "Your true self is something you have to find out for yourself. I have no interest in your identity. If you still want to cross this gate, then bring the key holder here and she will open it for you." The woman turned again to leave.

"But I don't know!" interrupted Imdad quickly. "Which path should I take?"

The silver-haired woman glanced at Imdad over her shoulder. "Follow in the trace of the moon! The light will guide you." She said the same to the thousands of lost spirits who had arrived at that place. The woman then disappeared with her horse as if merging with the snow in the dark night.

Imdad is alone at the highest peak of the world and looks around him. But there is nothing to guide him. He looked up at the sky but the full moon that night was covered in thick clouds so that the light did not reach the earth. He turned his gaze to the dark expanse of land and from the direction of the wind he saw a small light because the distance was very far shining like a lighthouse. Without hesitation, his feet stepped towards the light and his form turned into a ball of light as it hovered in the air. Imdad did not understand how his form could change. He just felt dreaming and imagined his body in such ways. His form shot up at the speed of light through the cold and dark air of the night.

It took only a few minutes for him to arrive at the location of the light. But he chose to hide and look at the light from a distance. He is back in the refugee camp area. Many invisible beings with various forms were around the place, looking in the same direction, at the soft light like the full moon.

The light shone from the top of the head of a woman who was crying in the darkness alone. The woman who has been his lover, Delisha.