Last Picture"

stood tall, its crumbling walls and towering spires casting eerie shadows in the dimly lit room. The atmosphere was heavy with a sense of foreboding, as if the air itself held secrets of the past. The flickering candlelight danced upon the aged painting, giving life to the characters frozen in time.

As the observer's eyes wandered back to the Mughal official, a chill ran down their spine. It was as if the portrait itself possessed a malevolence that seeped into the soul of anyone who dared to gaze upon it. The hatred and contempt emanating from the official's face were palpable, stirring up a mix of curiosity and fear in the viewer.

The tale of Nazanin Feroza, the fairy-faced girl in the painting, unfolded in the recesses of the observer's mind. Tabrizi Khan, the renowned painter and Nazanin's uncle, had raised her with utmost care and affection. But tragedy had struck their family when the plague ravaged their lives, leaving only Nazanin and Tabrizi behind.

The fragile candelabrum held by Nazanin symbolized their dwindling hope, as they faced the darkness and uncertainty that enveloped their world. Tabrizi, in his love and despair, poured his heart and soul into capturing the light of that candle, forever etching their bond onto the canvas.

However, the depths of the horror behind the painting were yet to be revealed. It was whispered that the Mughal official had sinister intentions towards Nazanin, a plot woven with cruelty and malice. The artist, Nadir Zaman Khan, had vowed to never paint again, unable to bear witness to the darkness that consumed his beloved niece.

As the observer's eyes returned to the painting, they noticed something amiss. The shadows that had indicated the approaching doom in the scene had shifted. The time for reckoning was near. The ancient curse that lingered within the picture was awakening, preparing to unleash its wrath upon the unsuspecting.

A sudden gust of wind rattled the windows, causing the candle flame to flicker violently. The room grew colder, and whispers filled the air, carried by unseen forces. It was as if the spirits of those trapped within the painting were trying to break free, to bring their tale of horror into the present.

Fear gnawed at the observer's heart as they realized they were not alone. The ghostly apparitions of Nazanin and Tabrizi materialized before them, their eyes pleading for release from the eternal torment of the painting. The curse had bound them to the realm of the living, forever trapped in the macabre masterpiece.

Driven by a mix of compassion and terror, the observer sought a way to break the curse and set the spirits free. They delved into the dark history surrounding the painting, unearthing ancient rituals and forgotten incantations. With each passing moment, the presence of the painting grew stronger, its evil intentions threatening to consume them.

As the final incantation left the observer's lips, a blinding light filled the room. The curse shattered, and the spirits of Nazanin and Tabrizi were released from their painted prison. A profound sense of peace washed over the room, and the painting transformed into an ordinary piece of art, devoid of its dark enchantment.

The house became a sanctuary once more, its inhabitants free from the malevolent influence that had plagued them for centuries. The last picture of Nadir Zaman Khan, now stripped of its curse, found its place among other works of art, a testament to the power of redemption and the triumph of light over darkness.

But the memory of the horror endured, a reminder that evil can seep through the cracks of time and manifest in unexpected ways. The tale of Nadir Zaman Khan, Tabrizi Khan, and Nazanin Feroza would forever be etched in the annals of history, a cautionary tale of the dangers that lie within the strokes of a painter's brush.