"BOUND BY FATE, TORN BY LOVE"

CHAPTER XLVIII

PLOT STORY:

Surya and Aashutosh arrive at Taj Palace, where they're met with a shocking sight: Rana Pratap and Nikolas, with Nikolas's foot pressed firmly on Pratap's mouth. Aashutosh rescues Pratap, and they decide to take him to the hospital.

However, Rana Pratap has other plans. He stabs Aashutosh in the back and announces that Surya will marry Jenna immediately. Despite Surya's protests, the wedding ceremony takes place, with Surya feeling like he's betraying his own heart.

A week later, Surya returns to Tales Palace with Aashutosh, who's recovering from his injuries. Surya asks Aashutosh when he's leaving for England, and Aashutosh reveals he's departing in three days.

Surya's emotions are in turmoil as he grapples with his forced marriage to Jenna. He confesses to Aashutosh that he doesn't consider Jenna his wife, as their relationship was born of coercion. Aashutosh reassures Surya that their love will endure despite the distance between them.

As they share a tender moment, Jenna appears, her eyes wide with shock and hurt. The scene ends with a cliffhanger, leaving the reader wondering what will happen next.

*Key plot points:*

1. Rana Pratap's shocking betrayal

2. Surya's forced marriage to Jenna

3. Aashutosh's recovery and impending departure for England

4. Surya's emotional turmoil and confession to Aashutosh

5. Jenna's dramatic appearance, setting the stage for a confrontation.

MAIN STORY:

As they reached at the Taj Palace they

stepped out of the car, Surya's eyes locked onto Aashutosh's, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. The grandeur of Taj Palace loomed before them, its opulent façade a stark reminder of the secrets and lies that lurked within. Surya's heart swelled with emotion as he reached out to take Aashutosh's hand, his fingers intertwining with Aashu's in a gentle yet firm grasp.

As they walked hand in hand towards the palace, the silence between them was palpable, heavy with unspoken emotions. Aashutosh's eyes darted nervously around the deserted courtyard, his brow furrowed in concern. "Maybe everyone's at Tales Palace," he suggested, his voice barely above a whisper.

Surya nodded, his grip on Aashutosh's hand tightening as they altered their course towards Tales Palace. The air seemed to thicken with every step, the shadows deepening into dark, foreboding pools. Aashutosh's fear was palpable, his eyes wide with a primal terror that Surya had never seen before. It was as if Aashu was staring into the abyss, his heart trembling with the knowledge that they might soon be torn apart forever.

Aashutosh's hand trembled in Surya's, his voice cracking as he spoke. "Surya, I'm with you, no matter what. I'll stand by every decision you make, even if it means we have to part ways." The words hung in the air like a promise, a solemn vow that seemed to shake the very foundations of their love.

Surya's eyes welled up with tears as he turned to face Aashutosh. "Thank you, Aashu, for coming into my life, for loving me," he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. Aashutosh's eyes mirrored Surya's, his face contorted in a mix of sadness and longing.

"Surya, thank you for loving me, for turning a scared, helpless boy into a strong, confident man," Aashutosh replied, his voice barely audible over the sound of his own heartbeat. As they stood there, hands clasped, eyes locked, the world around them melted away, leaving only the two of them, suspended in a sea of uncertainty.

Their gazes held, a deep, unspoken understanding passing between them. They both knew that the road ahead would be fraught with peril, that their love would be tested in ways they couldn't even imagine. But in that moment, none of that mattered. All that mattered was the love they shared, a love that had become the very fabric of their existence.

As Aashutosh and Surya entered Tales Palace, they were met with a shocking sight. Rana Pratap and Nikolas were seated on a sofa in the hall, with Nikolas's foot pressed firmly on Pratap's mouth. Aashutosh rushed towards Pratap, his face etched with concern, and pulled Nikolas's foot away. He gently lifted Pratap's head and cradled it in his lap, his voice soothing as he spoke. "Elder brother, don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you. We'll take you to the hospital right away."

Surya's eyes widened in agreement as he nodded. "Yes, Aashu, you're right. We should take Pratap to the hospital." Nikolas's face twisted in a snarl as he glared at Aashutosh. "Aashu, where did you find the courage to defy me? Has this prince instilled bravery in you?" He sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "But it doesn't matter now. You two will be separated soon anyway."

Aashutosh and Surya exchanged a poignant glance, the reality of their impending separation hitting them like a ton of bricks. Surya's voice was laced with a sense of resignation as he turned to Rana Pratap. "Your Highness, I've returned. Please, have Pratap taken to the hospital now." Rana Pratap's expression was cold, calculating, as he nodded. "Very well, Aashutosh. Take Pratap to the hospital."

As Aashutosh lifted Pratap, a sudden, swift movement caught everyone off guard. Rana Pratap plunged a sharp knife into Aashutosh's back, his eyes glinting with a malevolent light. "You dare to dream of being with my son? You're not even worthy of being our servant," he spat, his voice venomous.

Surya's face contorted in horror as he lunged at Rana Pratap. "How dare you, Father! How could you do this?" Nikolas's face turned red with rage as he, too, turned on Rana Pratap. "You've gone too far this time! You'll pay for this!"

Rana Pratap's expression was unmoved, his voice dripping with disdain. "Today, everyone will do as I say. Today, my word is law. I've invited Jenna and her family here for the wedding, and it will take place today, right here, right now." Nikolas's eyes blazed with defiance. "I won't let that happen. Let my son go, or you'll face the consequences."

Rana Pratap sneered, his guards moving swiftly to restrain Nikolas and Surya. Aashutosh, meanwhile, was dragged to a chair, bound and helpless. The scene was set for a devastating confrontation, one that would change the course of their lives forever.

As Jenna and her family arrived at Tales Palace, Jenna was resplendent in her wedding finery, her lehenga a vibrant splash of color against the somber backdrop of the palace. Rana Pratap, determined to see his son married off to the woman of his choice, forcibly dressed Surya in a sherwani and dragged him to the mandap, where the wedding ceremony was to take place.

The rituals of the Indian wedding ceremony unfolded with precision, but Surya's heart was not in it. He mumbled the mantras, his voice barely audible, his eyes downcast in shame. Rana Pratap's stubbornness had bound Surya to Jenna in a union that felt like a prison sentence.

As the ceremony progressed, Surya's discomfort grew. He felt like he was betraying his own heart, his own soul. With every mantra, he silently begged for forgiveness, his mind racing with the thought that he was committing a sacrilege. "I'm sorry, Goddess," he whispered, his voice lost in the din of the ceremony. "I'm sorry for this farce, for this mockery of love."

The ceremony finally came to an end, and Rana Pratap's face lit up with a triumphant smile. "You may all leave now," he declared, dismissing the guests.

Surya seized the opportunity to escape, fleeing to Aashutosh's side and whisking him away to the hospital, Pratap in tow. A week passed, and Jenna saw neither hide nor hair of her new husband.

It was only when Surya returned to Tales Palace with Aashutosh that Jenna caught a glimpse of him. She watched, her heart pounding, as Surya gently helped Aashutosh into his room, settling him onto the sofa with a tender touch.

Surya's eyes locked onto Aashutosh's, and he asked, his voice low and husky, "So, Mr. Aashutosh Singh, when are you leaving for England?" Aashutosh's response was barely above a whisper. "In three days, Surya."

Surya's face broke into a soft smile, but it was fleeting. His expression turned serious, his eyes burning with intensity. Aashutosh sensed the change in him and asked, his voice laced with concern, "And when are you joining your wife?"

Surya's response was bitter, his words laced with resentment. "She's not my wife, Aashu. She's just a woman I've been forced to marry. You know as well as I do that any relationship born of coercion is doomed from the start."

Aashutosh's eyes locked onto Surya's, and he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion, "I love you, Surya. I'll always love you, no matter what happens. We may be apart, but our hearts will always be connected."

Surya's face contorted in a mix of sadness and longing as he pulled Aashutosh into a tight embrace. It was then that Jenna appeared, her eyes wide with shock and hurt.

To be continue...