A young Indian artist receives a commission from a wealthy landowner in Mumbai to paint his "pet" tiger, Sahat. The portrait is ill-fated, however, when the tiger escapes and reeks havoc on the landowner's family. When the tiger is killed in retaliation, the landowner disposes of the painting, giving it to a servant to destroy. The painting is not destroyed but sold to an art dealer. The story chronicles the lives of everyone who possesses the painting and the mysterious curse attached to its possession.