TALES OF TAJ

CHAPTER XXXII

PLOT STORY:

Aashutosh, a young man, is struggling to come to terms with his feelings for Surya, a wealthy and charismatic individual. Surya, however, seems to have moved on and is now involved with Jenna, a beautiful singer.

As Aashutosh navigates his emotions, he begins to uncover secrets about Surya's past and the reasons behind his masked behavior. Meanwhile, Rana Pratap, a close friend of Surya's, observes the tension between Aashutosh and Surya and begins to wonder about the nature of their relationship.

As the story unfolds, Aashutosh and Surya are drawn to each other, despite the obstacles in their path. But with Nikolas's sinister plans looming in the background, their love is put to the test.

*Key Plot Points:*

1. Aashutosh discovers Surya's involvement with Jenna and feels betrayed.

2. Surya reveals his past and the reasons behind his masked behavior.

3. Rana Pratap becomes a confidant for Aashutosh and helps him navigate his feelings.

4. Nikolas's true intentions are revealed, threatening the safety of Aashutosh and Surya.

5. Aashutosh and Surya must confront their fears and doubts to be together.

*Themes:*

- Love and acceptance

- Identity and self-discovery

- Secrets and revelations

- Overcoming fears and doubts

*Genre:* Romance, Drama, Suspense

MAIN STORY:

Maskman received a call from the Doctor, who was frantic because Maskman had kidnapped his family. Maskman had lied to Nikolas, telling him he had killed the Doctor, to prevent Nikolas from harming the Doctor or his family. Maskman had taken drastic measures to protect them, even kidnapping the Doctor's family to keep them out of Nikolas's reach.

As Maskman prepared to leave, Ava confronted him, her voice trembling with emotion. "My mother was a friend of my dad, but how did she end up marrying him? Was it true that they loved each other? But if that's the case, how could my father love you?" Ava's eyes welled up with tears. "What happened? When my mom came to India, how did you and dad drift apart? How did Grandpa find out about you and dad?"

Maskman's expression turned somber, and he began to recount his story. "I hadn't seen Surya since our fight, and it had been a week since we last spoke. I was desperate to see him, so I decided to sneak into his room through the window, just like he used to visit me." Maskman's voice cracked with emotion. "But I made a mistake. I confided in Pratap, and he betrayed my trust by telling Surya that I would be visiting him at midnight."

Maskman's eyes narrowed, his voice laced with bitterness. "Surya, thinking I would fall for his trap, invited Jenna to his room, and they waited for me to arrive, planning to pretend that Surya had moved on and was happy with Jenna, just to hurt me." Maskman's face twisted in pain, the memories still raw and hurtful.

As the night wore on and everyone retreated to their rooms, Aashutosh snuck out to visit Surya, his heart racing with anticipation. He quietly made his way to Surya's room, his footsteps barely making a sound. But just as he reached the window, he heard a faint noise and froze, his senses on high alert.

Surya, sensing Aashutosh's presence, instinctively grabbed Jenna's hand, his eyes locked on the window. Aashutosh, his heart pounding in his chest, slowly peeked through the window and was met with a sight that made his blood run cold.

Surya and Jenna were standing together, their faces inches apart, and Surya's arms wrapped around Jenna's waist. Aashutosh's eyes widened in shock and pain as he watched Surya whisper something in Jenna's ear, a smile spreading across his face.

Jenna giggled and replied, "I'm so happy to be here, Surya. And I'm thrilled to be staying at the Taj Palace." Surya's smile grew wider as he pulled Jenna closer, his voice dripping with affection. "I'm so glad you're here, Jenna. You have no idea how much I needed you."

Aashutosh's heart sank as he listened to their conversation, feeling like he'd been punched in the gut. Jenna asked Surya about his boyfriend, and Surya's expression turned somber. "We broke up," he said, his voice laced with sadness. "He didn't trust me."

Aashutosh felt a stinging sensation in his eyes as he realized Surya was talking about him. He couldn't bear to watch anymore, and with a heavy heart, he turned and crept back to his room, feeling lost and alone.

As Aashutosh slipped away into the night, Surya couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that settled in his chest. He whispered to himself, his voice barely audible, "Just a few more days, Aashu. I know that the only way to overcome your fears is to face them head-on. I need to make you strong, strong enough to live your life to the fullest even if I'm not by your side."

Surya's eyes gleamed with determination as he continued, his voice filled with conviction. "I want you to be so strong that even if we're apart, you'll still be able to find happiness. I want you to be able to let go of the past and move on, to find love again if that's what you desire."

As Surya stood there, lost in thought, his heart swelled with emotion. He knew that the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but he was willing to do whatever it took to set Aashutosh free from his fears and doubts. Little did Surya know, his plan was about to set off a chain reaction of events that would change their lives forever.

Aashutosh sat in his room, his mind racing with thoughts. "Who is this Jenna girl, and why has she come to India? And why is she with Surya?" He couldn't shake off the feeling that Surya had moved on and forgotten about me. "Has Surya really forgotten about me? Will he ever love me again?" Aashutosh's eyes welled up with tears as he drifted off to sleep, his heart heavy with doubts and fears.

The next morning, Rana Pratap invited Nikolas and his family to Jenna's singing program. Nikolas accepted the invitation, and when Aashutosh found out, he didn't want to go. But Pratap encouraged him, saying, "Aashu, you'll get to see Surya there. Talk to him and clear up any misunderstandings."

Aashutosh hesitated, his voice laced with sadness. "But Pratap, Surya has forgotten about me. He doesn't love me anymore." Pratap's expression turned gentle, and he placed a reassuring hand on Aashutosh's shoulder. "Maybe Surya is just angry with you. But until you hear it from his own lips that he doesn't love you, don't believe it."

Aashutosh looked up at Pratap, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. Pratap smiled and said, "Now, go get ready. We have to attend the program, okay?" Aashutosh nodded, a small smile on his face. "Okay, I'll get ready."

Aashutosh looked dashing as he got ready for Jenna's singing program. As he entered the party, all eyes were on him, including Jenna's. Surya couldn't help but stare at Aashutosh, but he composed himself, looking away to avoid drawing attention.

Aashutosh, however, couldn't take his eyes off Surya, waiting for the perfect moment to apologize. When Jenna was called on stage to perform, her attention was still fixated on Aashutosh. Surya noticed this and whispered to Jenna, "Don't look at him. He's mine, and he'll always be mine."

Jenna teased Surya, saying, "Tell Aashutosh not to look so attractive. Every girl here can't take their eyes off him." Surya couldn't help but notice the same thing, and it didn't sit well with him. But he couldn't do anything about it.

Surya urged Jenna to focus on her performance, and she took the stage, her voice mesmerizing the audience. Aashutosh and Surya were both entranced, their eyes locking in a moment of pure connection. It was as if the entire world had melted away, leaving only the two of them.

As they gazed into each other's eyes, it was clear that they were meant to be together. The air was electric with tension, and it seemed like nothing else mattered except for the love they shared.

Rana Pratap's eyes narrowed as he noticed Aashutosh and Surya locked in a intense gaze. A flurry of questions swirled in his mind, his expression a mixture of curiosity and concern. He had known Surya since childhood, and he was well aware of Surya's inclination towards men.

A hint of surprise crossed Rana Pratap's face as he thought to himself, "Could it be? Is Surya really interested in Aashutosh?" He couldn't help but wonder about the nature of their relationship, his mind racing with possibilities.

As he continued to observe the two, Rana Pratap's expression softened, replaced by a warm smile. He felt a sense of joy and acceptance, thinking that maybe, just maybe, Surya had found someone who truly understood and loved him for who he was.

To be continue....