TALES OF TAJ

CHAPTER XXIII

PLOT STORY:

Ava, a young woman, is dragged away from Ruby by Nikolas, a ruthless and cunning man. Nikolas ties Ava to a pillar in a secret room, where Maskman, Ava's biological father, is waiting. Maskman is revealed to be Aashutosh, a man with a troubled past.

*Plot Threads:*

1. Ava's true identity and her connection to Maskman.

2. Nikolas's motives and his connection to Maskman's past.

3. Ruby's role in the story and her connection to Maskman.

*Character Arcs:*

1. Ava: From innocence to discovery, Ava's journey begins as she uncovers secrets about her past.

2. Maskman/Aashutosh: From mystery to revelation, Maskman's past is slowly uncovered, revealing his motivations and emotions.

3. Nikolas: From cruelty to manipulation, Nikolas's true nature is revealed, showcasing his ruthless and cunning personality.

*Themes:*

1. Identity: Ava's journey to discover her true identity.

2. Betrayal: Nikolas's betrayal of Maskman's trust.

3. Redemption: Maskman's quest for redemption and protection of Ava.

*Cliffhangers:*

1. What secrets did Ava uncover that put her life in danger?

2. What is Nikolas's true motive for holding Ava captive?

3. What is Ruby's connection to Maskman's past?

*Next Chapter:*

The story will continue with Maskman's narration of his past, revealing the events that led to his current situation. Ava will learn more about her true identity and her connection to Maskman, while Nikolas's true motives will be further revealed.

MAIN STORY:

Nikolas's brutal grip dragged Ava away from Ruby's desperate gaze, leaving Ruby's eyes wide with terror. She begged Nikolas to spare Ava's life, her voice trembling with fear, but her pleas fell on deaf ears.

Ruby's body shook with sobs as she pleaded with Nikolas, falling at his feet and begging him to release Ava. "Please, Grandpa, don't hurt her! She's innocent!" But Nikolas remained unmoved, his expression twisted in a malevolent scowl.

With a sudden jerk, Nikolas grabbed Ruby's hair, his voice dripping with malice. "Ruby, do you know what she's done? She's uncovered secrets that we've kept hidden for years. I wish I had killed that doctor earlier, then none of this would have happened."

Ruby's head snapped back as Nikolas slammed her against the wall, leaving her stunned and reeling. Ava's cries echoed through the hallway as Nikolas dragged her to a secret room connected to his own chamber.

The air was thick with tension as Nikolas tied Ava to a pillar with a rope. His voice was filled with rage as he called Maskman. "Maskman, your precious Ava has uncovered all our secrets. She was about to reveal everything to Ruby. That doctor, who's supposedly your friend told Ava everything."

Maskman's voice thundered through the phone, his anger and desperation palpable. "Don't you dare harm a hair on Ava's head. She's my daughter, and she's the last remaining part of my Surya that I have left."

Nikolas sneered, his voice laced with contempt. "You're still so dramatic, Maskman. Who loves whom, and how much? I know it all."

Maskman entered the secret room, where Nikolas had tied Ava to a pillar. Ruby was also present, sitting in a corner, but Nikolas hadn't tied her up. Maskman approached Ava, who was still unconscious, her head wound now dry and bloodless.

Maskman gently placed his hand on Ava's head and spoke in a soft voice, "Ava, who told you to talk to the doctor? Because of you, I had to kill him and his family. My biggest mistake was not sharing my secrets with my father, but I shared everything with that doctor, my good friend. But because of you, I had to kill him. Do you think anyone can deceive me, Ava? I won't even realize it."

Maskman's tone turned sinister as he continued, "You know the thief you killed? I sent him to test whether you'd meet Ruby or not. And look what happened? You ended up meeting her." Maskman burst into maniacal laughter.

Nikolas chuckled, mocking Maskman's seriousness. "Aashutosh, after all these years, you're meeting your father, and yet you're still wearing that mask. Won't you show me your face?"

Maskman turned to face Nikolas, his voice cold and detached. "How can you be my father? You forfeited that right long ago. Everyone in this palace, none of them are related to me. If my anger was only towards you, I would have killed you a long time ago. But my anger is towards Ruby, who has forced me to wear this mask forever."

The atmosphere became tense, and Ruby looked at Maskman with questioning eyes, seeking answers to the mysteries surrounding him.

Nikolas gently poured water over Ava's face, trying to revive her. As she slowly regained consciousness, she saw Nikolas sitting beside her and Maskman standing nearby, his eyes fixed on her.

Ava's gaze locked onto Maskman, her voice laced with confusion and hurt. "Why did you do this?" she asked, her eyes welling up with tears. Maskman remained silent, his expression unreadable.

Ava repeated her question, her voice growing more desperate. Nikolas's patience wore thin, and he snapped, "I didn't revive you just to listen to your pointless questions. Please, just calm down."

Ava's eyes flashed with anger as she turned to Nikolas. "I'm not talking to you. Just shut up!" she spat, her voice venomous.

Maskman's gaze never wavered from Ava's face. His voice was low and laced with pain as he spoke. "Was there any other choice for me? I ruined my entire life for that one man, and what did he do? He betrayed me. He fell in love with your mother and married her, leaving me shattered."

Maskman's eyes seemed to bore into Ava's soul as he asked, "What was I supposed to do, Ava? Tell me, what would you have done in my place?"

Ava's voice trembled with emotion as she spoke. "You know, I may have spent my entire life with Johnathan Boss and Emily, but I saw both my mother and father in you. I had no idea that by raising me, you were trying to alleviate the burden on your mind."

Maskman's expression turned somber as he gazed at Ava. "Ava, you still only know half the truth. And you're aware that half-truths can be more dangerous than outright lies."

Ava's eyes locked onto Maskman's, her voice firm. "Then tell me the whole truth."

Maskman began to narrate his story to Ava. "After Pratap's father passed away, his mother married Nikolas. Initially, Nikolas showered Pratap with love and affection, but as I and my elder brother grew up, Nikolas's affection towards Pratap began to wane."

"Pratap was an exceptional student from the start and topped his school, earning a scholarship. He went on to study at a prestigious institute. However, after his mother's passing, Nikolas revealed his true, evil nature to Pratap."

"Despite Nikolas's cruel behavior, Pratap never retaliated or spoke back to him. Instead, he continued to treat Nikolas with the same respect and kindness he always had. Pratap topped his university and landed a job, where he befriended Surya."

"I, too, was a good student and needed an internship at the time. Pratap offered me a position as an intern at his company, and that's how I began my journey."

"It was my first day at the company, and I was thrilled to start working with Pratap. I was extremely excited and put in my best efforts from the very beginning. Everyone at Pratap's company seemed to share his kind nature."

"Lunchtime was at 1 pm. Pratap had invited me to have lunch in his office. As I entered his office, I saw Surya for the first time. Her beautiful eyes locked onto mine, and for some reason, I got lost in them for a few moments."

"Just then, I heard Pratap's voice, and he suddenly entered the cabin. Startled by his sudden appearance, I lost my balance and stumbled. But Surya quickly caught me, saving me from falling."

To be continue...