**Chapter 30: Raj Ki Qurbani**
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The days following the dinner were filled with cautious optimism. Raj and Ayesha felt a renewed sense of unity, with their families' tentative acceptance providing a fragile yet promising foundation. However, Raj was still troubled by Vikram’s potential interference in their lives. He knew he had to take a drastic step to protect Ayesha and ensure their happiness.
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One evening, Raj invited Ayesha to a quiet spot by the sea, a place where they often found solace. As the sun began to set, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink, Raj held Ayesha's hand and took a deep breath.
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"Ayesha, mujhe tumse kuch zaruri baat karni hai," Raj began, his voice serious.
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Ayesha sensed the gravity of his tone and looked at him with concern. "Raj, kya hua? Tum itne serious kyun lag rahe ho?"
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Raj took a moment before continuing, "Ayesha, tum jaanti ho ki main tumse kitna pyar karta hoon. Lekin Vikram ka shadow hamesha humare upar mandra raha hai. Main nahi chahta ke tumhe meri wajah se koi bhi takleef ho."
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Ayesha tightened her grip on his hand, her heart pounding. "Raj, tum kya kehna chahte ho? Tumhara aur mera saath hona hi meri strength hai. Hum milke Vikram ka samna kar sakte hain."
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Raj's eyes were filled with pain as he spoke, "Ayesha, main tumhare bina jee nahi sakta. Lekin main bhi tumhe is mushkil mein nahi dekh sakta. Shayad, humara alag hona hi sabke liye behtar hoga."
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Ayesha's eyes widened in disbelief. "Raj, tum kya bol rahe ho? Humne itni saari mushkilein saath mein face ki hain. Tum aise kaise keh sakte ho?"
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Raj cupped her face, his voice breaking. "Ayesha, tumhe samajhna hoga. Main tumhe pyaar karta hoon aur yeh bhi jaanta hoon ke tum mere bina adhoori ho jaogi. Lekin agar tum mere saath raho toh shayad aur bhi zyada takleef mein rahogi. Main tumhe safe dekhna chahta hoon, khush dekhna chahta hoon."
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Ayesha shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "Raj, tum mere sab kuch ho. Tumhare bina main jee nahi sakti. Tumhara pyaar hi meri strength hai. Agar tum mujhse dur chale gaye toh main toot jaungi."
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Raj pulled her into a tight embrace, his own tears mixing with hers. "Ayesha, yeh decision lena mere liye bhi asaan nahi hai. Lekin shayad humara alag hona hi tumhare liye safe rahega. Tumhe apni zindagi mein aage badhna hoga, mere bina."
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Ayesha clung to him, refusing to let go. "Raj, please aise mat karo. Main tumhare bina nahi jee sakti. Humara pyar itna weak nahi hai ke ek Vikram hume alag kar de."
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Raj held her tightly, his heart breaking with every word. "Ayesha, main tumhe hamesha pyaar karta rahunga. Lekin ab tumhe meri khushi ke liye apne aage badhna hoga. Main hamesha tumhare saath rahunga, chahe physically na sahi, lekin mere pyaar mein tumhe hamesha support milega."
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Ayesha sobbed uncontrollably, the pain of his words piercing her heart. "Raj, tumhe meri kasam. Hum is problem ka milke samna karenge. Tumhare bina meri zindagi adhoori hai."
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Raj kissed her forehead, trying to memorize every detail of her face. "Ayesha, main tumse vada karta hoon ke tumhe khush dekhne ke liye main kuch bhi karunga. Tum apni zindagi jeeyo, apne sapne pure karo. Aur yaad rakhna, main tumhe hamesha pyar karta rahunga."
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With that, Raj walked away, leaving Ayesha heartbroken by the sea. The waves crashed against the shore, echoing the turmoil in her heart. As she watched him disappear into the distance, she knew that their love was not over. It was simply taking a different form, one that required immense strength and sacrifice.
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Ayesha stood there for a long time, letting the reality of the situation sink in. She knew she had to respect Raj’s decision, but her heart refused to accept it. She resolved to fight for their love, no matter the cost. With renewed determination, she wiped her tears and walked away from the shore, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
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The days that followed were filled with pain and longing. Both Raj and Ayesha tried to move on with their lives, but the void left by each other’s absence was too deep to fill. They remained connected in spirit, their love giving them the strength to endure the separation.
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Raj threw himself into his filmmaking, using his pain as fuel for his creativity. His new project, inspired by their love story, began to take shape, earning praise and recognition. Ayesha, on the other hand, focused on her career, channeling her emotions into her work and becoming a stronger, more independent woman.
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Despite the distance, their love continued to grow, silently and steadfastly. They knew that their paths would cross again, and when they did, they would be ready to face any challenge together. For now, they had to trust in their love and the strength it gave them to keep moving forward.
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Kismet Ki Kahani
RomanceIn the heart of Mumbai, where dreams are as vivid as the city lights, "Kismet Ki Kahani" unfolds the love story of Ayesha Mehra and Raj Malhotra.Ayesha, a spirited fashion editor with a past heartache, thrives in the fast-paced world of fashion. Raj...