Chapter 1
Prologue
Samaira’s POV:
Applause filled my ears. I held my degree up and threw my convocation cap into the air along with the others, and posed for the camera with a broad smile.
It continued with group pictures. I kept my smile constant. But as time passed, I couldn’t mask my face with fake happiness anymore. My smile started disappearing. Deliberately. Within a few minutes, I looked like a dead woman.
“Samaira Shah!” I heard my friends yelling. “You need to smile when you look at the camera.”
I forced a smile as the cameras captured us. I looked at the others, who were truly smiling, giggling, and deciding their futures and next steps.
Well, my future had already been decided. And that was to take over Shah Textiles.
I decided to leave the auditorium without drawing everyone’s attention. But someone caught my hand. It was Meera, my good friend.
“You are leaving already?” She smiled. Her eyes were filled with tears. Tears of happiness and tears of farewell. She pulled me into a hug. “I will miss you,” she whispered. “And you promised me a job, remember?” she reminded me.
I laughed. “Yes, I do remember. As my PA. But first, I want to speak with my papa.”
“Are you going to have a celebration tonight?”
I stared at a distant wall. A celebration. Maybe we would have had one. If... If Hritik hadn’t left us.
I moistened my lips but kept my mouth shut. But I had to say something. “Yes,” I lied. “We are having a celebration at Shah Mansion.”
“Then you have to leave, I guess?” she asked, glancing around the auditorium.
“Yes.” I pressed my fingers against my palm. My nails dug deep into my soft flesh. I had developed this habit. To reduce one pain, I inflicted another on my body.
I walked out. Slowly, the voices faded away. I took the staircase down to the basement.
I was tired. Tired of shedding tears, of remembering my brother. Tired of spending countless hours learning about the business. My days and nights were consumed by thoughts of my upcoming responsibilities. It was scary. To be the future CEO of Shah Textiles. And I really missed him. Hritik Shah. My elder brother, who happened to leave us. Who happened to leave me. Especially me.
I approached my car. The parking lot was exceptionally quiet. I searched for my car keys in my purse. My mind was occupied with so many things that I had lost count. And before I could pull out the keys, something soft, perhaps a piece of fabric, was pressed against my mouth.
And before I could realise what was happening, I lost consciousness.
****
The last thing I remembered clearly was leaving the university auditorium.
It was convocation day.
Then I remembered walking towards the parking area when someone approached me from behind.
A sudden, sharp smell filled my nose, and then I lost consciousness. And now I was here. God knows where. My wrists were tied behind my back. I was blindfolded.
The first thing I felt was fear.
For several seconds, I sat completely still, unable to understand what was happening.
And then I called out, “Who...” I gulped. “Is someone there?” I asked.
I heard a sound. Footsteps approaching me. My heart was pounding loudly.
I tried to free my hands.
“Please, whoever you are, I don’t know what you want. Just let me go.”
I heard the quiet breathing of my kidnapper. “Please... I’m begging you. If you want money, my father can give you money. Just tell me what you want.”
“What do I want?” I was startled by the sudden, harsh voice of my kidnapper, who, judging by his voice, was a man.
“Yes!” I whispered.
“You can never give me back what you took from me!” I sat up straight. I was on the ground, and he was standing in front of me.
“Who are you?”
He didn’t answer. But then he whispered, “Your nightmare.”
He took a step towards me. I trembled and moved back.
“Please don’t hurt me.”
“Get up!” he ordered.
“Why?”
“Just stand!”
I tried to stand, but I couldn’t. “My hands are tied,” I responded. I could feel my tears soaking the cloth tied around my eyes. “Please let me go!”
He grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet. “Walk!” he demanded.
“Huh?” I exclaimed.
“Walk!” I walked. I took a step. One. Two. Three. And I stumbled.
The man caught my elbow from behind. But when he bent forward to hold me, my fingers caught hold of something. It was thick and round, like a button, and I held it tight. And when he moved back,it got pulled off. I held it tightly in my fist. It’s good that he didn’t notice it.
“Are you alright?” I tilted my head. Something in his voice made me feel something I shouldn’t have. I sensed concern.
I was speechless for a moment. “Who are you?” I asked. “Why are you doing this to me? Why do I hear concern in your voice? You are my kidnapper. You can feel anything but concern,” I said.
He chuckled. That was all. And then I heard his footsteps fading away.
And then I heard the sound of a car engine. And then he just drove away.
Suddenly, fear rose within me. I didn’t know where I was. I didn’t know what would happen. I was crying uncontrollably. I remembered everyone. Those who were still in my life and those who were gone, too. I remembered my papa, who must have been too busy to notice my absence. I remembered my brother. Who... I gulped. Who was somewhere in heaven, watching me standing alone in some deserted place.
“Help!” I called out. Trying to control my tears, I called for help.
And then I heard the screeching sound of tyres as a car approached me. I moved back. “Who?” I moved further back. Someone got out of the car. “No, whoever it is, please stay back!” I demanded.
“Relax, ma’am.” The moment I heard a woman’s voice, I stopped.
She approached me and instantly pulled the blindfold away. My eyes were so soaked with tears that I could hardly see anything for a few seconds.
The lady, in her mid-fifties, stood beside me. She had already freed my hands. I glanced at her car. “Who are you? Are you with my kidnapper too?”
She smiled. “No, ma’am. I am here to take you home,” she responded and walked towards her car. I stood for a moment and stared back at the warehouse and then at my surroundings. I could hardly believe that a place like this existed in Delhi.
But then I recalled something. I opened my fist and saw the button. It wasn’t an ordinary one. A golden embroidered button. A small flower was embroidered on it, with a tiny pink stone in the centre.
****
Dear Readers,
I’m excited to introduce my new novel, Deceitful Love, a story filled with love, revenge, betrayal, and hidden truths.
This story will take you through the lives of Samaira Shah and Rayan Roushan, two individuals brought together by circumstances, separated by misunderstandings, and bound by secrets. As the story unfolds, love and revenge become difficult to distinguish.
I hope you enjoy this new journey with me. Your love, support, and feedback mean a lot to me.
Copyright Notice © 2026 Shareena. All Rights Reserved.
This story is an original work of fiction. All characters, dialogues, events, and storylines are fictional. Any resemblance to real persons or events is purely coincidental.
No part of this work may be copied, reproduced, translated, republished, distributed, or adapted without the author’s prior written permission. Plagiarism and unauthorised use of this work are strictly prohibited.
With love,
Shareena
