Chapter 8: Story 8: The Haunting Portrait
My curiosity about village life led me to visit a friend's village. The simplicity and tranquility of the village starkly contrasted with the bustling city life I was used to. My friend showed me around, and eventually, we arrived at his family's old haveli. The haveli was majestic yet eerie, filled with the echoes of the past.
In one large room, photographs of his ancestors adorned the walls. My friend left me there, explaining he had some work to attend to. As I wandered, admiring the old photographs, one in particular made me freeze. It was the image of a ghostly man, his eyes seemingly alive, staring right at me. Suddenly, his mouth opened in a silent scream. Terrified, I bolted from the room, screaming for my friend.
He found me in the hallway, panic-stricken. Comforting me, he led me back to the room, insisting there was no ghost. Laughing, he pointed to the photo and explained that it was of their old village squire, who had died in battle with his enemy. Despite his reassurances, I felt a lingering fear and insisted on returning home.
As we journeyed back to the city, the haunting image of the squire stayed with me, a reminder of the eerie visit to the old haveli.