Charminar Madhyarathri Bike

Charminar Midnight Bike

Post #071 · City Bhayam · 2024-02-28 · Karma

Katha saarāmsham · Premise: A food-delivery rider takes the Charminar shortcut at midnight. The Qutb Shahi minarets chime — but Charminar has no bells.
Setting: Charminar streets (Hyderabad / Telangana).
In English: Charminar Midnight Bike. A Lighted Tales original Telugu horror story, written in Romanized Telugu (Tenglish) with Telangana dialect.

Charminar Midnight Bike

Afroz: "Rey Azhar, ee route lo veldamante naaku bhayam ra. Last delivery 11:45 ayindi, ippudu Charminar lo nunchi cross cheste 20 minutes save avtundi, kaani..."

Azhar: "Kaani emi leru. Gulzar Houz nunchi Murgi Chowk, akkada nunchi Moazzam Jahi direct. Nenu roju velthunnanu bhai. 10 saarlu chesanu. Em jaragadu."

Afroz: "Neeku telusa, maa daadi cheppedi, Charminar lo midnight tarvatha minarets lo nunchi ghanta sound vinipisthundi ani. Adhi bad omen ani."

Azhar: "Daadi story lu vinadam naaku time ledu bhai. Naa target 15 orders ee shift lo. Ippatike 12 ayyayi. Malli 10 minutes lo oka order pick cheyyali Himayatnagar ki. Ee shortcut lekapothe naaku next order miss avtundi."

Afroz Khan ki 22 years, Azhar Pasha ki 24. Iddaru Mehdipatnam side lo oke gaddi lo untaru, Swiggy rider lu. Aa roju February 27, 2024, Tuesday rathri. Hyderabad Old City lo nenu Metro Phase 2 construction work modalupeitindi, Charminar chuttu roads kondaramu barricades tho half blocked ga unnayi. Azhar ki aa routes anni bykart la telusu.

Afroz bike start chesadu. Hero Splendor, red color, number plate TS 09 lo start avtundi. Azhar ki a bike ante ishtam — light weight, narrow galli lo easy ga thiruguthundi. Gulzar Houz circle daggara nunchi right thirigi, Laad Bazaar lane lo enter ayyaru. Bangles shops anni mosi padukunnayi. Oka iron grill shutter behind nunchi TV sound slight ga vastundi — PSR channel lo late night film. Adhi tappa inka em sound ledu.

Charminar kanipinchindi. Naalugu minarets, 400-year old rocks, yellow sodium light lo niluchuni unnayi. 2000 lo 400-year anniversary celebration roju nenu school lo unnappudu news lo chusa — ippudu a stone darkening ayi undi, weathered. Azhar speed slow chesadu. Charminar kindi arch nunchi cross cheyyali — aa arch daggara 11:58 PM.

Aa arch kindha Azhar bike tho enter ayyadu. Afroz pillion midha koorchuni unnadu.

Exactly 12:00 AM ki — oka bell sound vinipinchindi.

Ghanta ghanta, lota metal sound. Oka saari kaadu, padiku saarlu. Slow ga, steady ga, oka temple bell la. Kaani direction edo clear kaledu — top nunchi vasthunnattu undi.

Azhar bike aapadu. Engine idle.

Afroz: "Azhar bhai, vinipisthundha?"

Azhar: "Ayyadu. Matra... Charminar lo bells levu ra. Ee masjid top lo kuda bells ledu. Namaz ki azaan maatrame. Bells edi?"

Afroz pillion nunchi dhigadu. Head up chesi chusadu. Top floor masjid, rendu storey arcade, naalugu minarets — fully lit, niluchuni unnayi. Pigeons kuda ledu aa velaki. Ghanta sound malli malli, adey rhythm.

Afroz: "Rey, pakka yevaro bell ringing chestharu. Charminar kadha, Mecca Masjid kavalanuko?"

Azhar: Aa direction chusadu. Mecca Masjid 100 meters dooram lo. Avaru bell kuda mondakirachaledu, 1687 nunchi masjid akkada, adi azaan maatrame call. Kaani ippudu 12:00 AM, azaan time kaadu.

Bell sound aagipoindi suddenly.

Tarvatha — footstep sound start ayyindi.

Chinna footsteps. Oka manushudu kaadu. Chala mandhi, maybe 20 or 30, edo ceremonial walk la. Charminar lopala nunchi vasthunnayi — aa stone floor midha leather chappals ga. Kaani Charminar gate closed undi ippudu, ASI rules prakaram 5:30 PM tarvatha tourists levaru.

Azhar bike engine start chesi handle thirigadu.

→ Idey theme lo inka oka katha: Begumpet Purathana Colony

Azhar: "Afroz ekku bhai. Velthamu. Velthamu ippudu."

Afroz pillion ekkadam lopala oka voice vinipinchindi — pedda, manly voice, Urdu-Dakhni lo —

Voice: "Rukh jao. Idhar kaun hai?"

Azhar ki Dakhni Urdu sulabham, chinnappatinunchi Old City lo pedigadu. "Aagandi, ikkada evaru?" ani meaning. Kaani aa voice accent un-usual — 50-60 years back Dakhni la undi, Nizam era sipai accent la, ippudu ee area lo evvaru antha pat ga matladaru.

Azhar thiragi chusadu. Charminar arch lopalnunchi oka silhouette mundu ki adugu vesadu. Long coat, shoulder midha pedda rifle, head midha pointed cap — state guard la undi, kaani uniform style 1940s era, black-and-khaki. Face clear ga kanipinchaledu, shadow lo undi.

Azhar bike ki throttle icchadu. Afroz sariga pillion midha koorchoney lopala bike munduku velli poindi. Laad Bazaar lane ki velli, Patthar Gatti nunchi right thirigi, Madina hotel mundu daggara aagadu. 2 minutes lo 1 km distance cover ayyadu.

Afroz: "Bhai, aagu. Naaku breath raledu."

Iddaru dhigaru. Madina hotel shutter half open undi, lopala oka servant cleaning chesthunnadu, dum pots chechadu. Azhar tap open chesi neeru tagaadu. Chethulu shake avtunnayi. Jacket jeebu lo konchem paisalu kotla undi, ayana hand tho touch cheesadu verify ga. Real ga inka real world lo undaami ani. Shirt bugga sweat tho wet ga undi, December alla pre-summer Hyderabad weather lo thakkuva sweat — ippudu inka cheemera.

Azhar: "Afroz, aa manushudu , nuvvu chusava?"

Afroz: "Chusanu bhai. Rifle chusanu. Bayonet kuda fixed ga undi. 1940s era Enfield la undi. Nenu YouTube lo chusa oka documentary, Hyderabad Police Action 1948 about. Razakar militia vaallaki adhey type ayudham undedi. Aa photo lo exact same style."

Azhar nodded. Daadi chinnappuddu cheppedi — 1948 September lo Indian Army Hyderabad ki vacchindi, Razakars ni dissolve chesindi, Old City lo violence jarigindi rendu weeks. Chala mandhi chanipoyaru aa days lo. Historians estimate 40,000 nunchi 200,000 civilian deaths cheppaaru — number ippatikee debate lo undi. Charminar area lo particularly — adhi government heart center, idle ground of displacement. Daadi yedi chepulu chotu kinda ki vastundi aa kathal cheppinapudu. Aame tana chinna thammudu ni aa rojullo kosi poyaru — body eppudu family ki raaledu, grave kuda ledu. 76 years aame aa thammudu pedda bhai ni mana kalalo pilusthundi ani cheppedi.

Afroz: "Azhar, okati cheptha. Maa taatha kuda Old City lo undedi aa rojullo. Mehboob ki Pata lo shop undedi, 1948 lo adhi tagalabadindi. Taatha kuda baga chanipoyadu adhe time lo, official record lo natural death ani rasaru kaani intlo cheppedi, oka soldier vaallani shoot chesadu ani. Maa mama aa kathalu cheppevaadu Ramadan iftar time lo , silent ga, kallu lo ochina tears tho. Aa kathalu family secrets la silent ga carry ayyaayi."

Azhar suddenly artham ayyindi — aa bell sound, aa footsteps, aa voice — avi ee night ki kotthavi kaadu. Edo cycle, 76 years nunchi running ga undi.

Azhar: "Velthamu bhai. Maa intiki velthamu ippude. Swiggy order cancel cheseyyi. Naaku inka ee shift complete cheyyaledu."

Afroz phone teesi Swiggy app open chesadu. Cancel chesadam ki try chesadu. App crash ayyindi. Restart chesadu.

Open ayyindi. Screen midha oka notification —

"Order #HYD-2024-02-27-0012 : Delivered. Customer: Mr. Yakoob Ali, address: Ghansi Bazaar, opposite Charminar arch, timestamp 00:02 AM."

Afroz: "Azhar, ee order nenu pick cheyyaledu. Ee order edi ra?"

Azhar screen chusadu. Screenshot teesadu. Yakoob Ali ani name. Ghansi Bazaar daggara oka specific address. Timestamp adey night, 2 minutes daggara jarigindi — when vaallu Charminar cross chesaru.

Afroz: "Bhai, Yakoob Ali... maa taatha peru. 1948 lo chanipoyina taatha."

Azhar phone kindha pettadu. Oka match teesi Madina hotel mundu unna kullu dabba daggara pettadu. Sigarette lite chesadu, hand lo shaking ka pilavaledu.

Azhar: "Afroz, ee shift naaku last. Swiggy logout chesthanu. Repu nunchi Old City routes naaku bandh. Nuvvu kuda..."

Afroz: Afroz cigarette tisukoledu, athadu smoke cheyyadu. Kaani okka chinna thing chesadu — phone lo Swiggy history chusadu. Last 30 days lo Azhar 14 saarlu Charminar shortcut chesadu midnight tarvatha. Prathi saari oka unknown order appear ayyindi — Yakoob Ali ki kaadu, different names, kaani andaru 1940s era Old City residents names.

Afroz: "Azhar, nuvvu 14 orders deliver chesavu. Ekkada chestunnavu nuvvu? Ivi elaa vasthunnayi? Nuvvu money kuda antha tisukuntunnava?"

Azhar: Azhar silent ayyadu. Payment history chusadu. Prathi saari oka wallet credit — small amounts, 50, 80, 120. Total Rs 1,247 aa month lo. Sender "System Auto-Credit" ani mathrame undi. Azhar 14 saarlu aa pre-existing money ni accept chesadu, questions adgakunda.

Azhar ki artham ayyindi. Aa money pucchakaniki kaadu, maatrame accept chesadam ki oka kimmath chellinchindi. Prathi shortcut, prathi delivery, prathi Rs icchinappudu — vaallaki oka rina tiyyadam. Enduku tiyyali ani kuda tenaku. Kaani rina perigindi.

→ Pakkana ee story kuda chadavandi: Moazzam Jahi Market Pinni

Azhar phone teesi UPI lo Rs 1,247 transfer chesadu — Mecca Masjid niluchu langar donation account ki. Charminar ki 500 meters. Aa donation submit ayindi ani confirmation vacchindi 12:14 AM ki.

Aa sekaniki — Azhar phone midha next notification —

"Order #HYD-2024-02-27-0013 : Refunded. Customer: Mr. Yakoob Ali. Reason: Recipient not reachable."

Refunded. Rina tirigindi. Money kitkat pucchakaniki kaadu — acknowledgment ki. Old City lo 1948 lo chanipoyina Yakoob Ali ki, maarika dariki vellaka, prathi midnight Swiggy system lo oka order place cheyyadam mathrame opportunity. Azhar daani cycle lo padipoyadu — tana mood lo money vasthundi ani. Ippudu alaa kadhu anpinchindi. Donation tarvatha aa cycle close ayyindi.

Azhar bike start chesadu malli. Afroz pillion midha koorchunnadu. Madina hotel mundu nunchi velli Mehdipatnam back route teesukunnaru — Charminar avoid chesi.

Next day Azhar Swiggy account permanent ga delete chesadu. Ola Foods ki shift ayyadu, kaani Old City area option off chesadu. Afroz kuda parallel lo shifted. Aa week lo iddaru Mehdipatnam masjid daggara oka chinna Quran-khwani organize chesaaru — generic ga "Old City ki 1948 lo chanipoyina samskuru kosam" ani intention. Maulvi ki Rs 500 donated, friends 10 mandi attended, chinna duas recite chesaaru. Azhar aa roju silent ga padu gantalu kurchoni undaadu masjid corner lo, chevula lo Arabic verse lines listen chestoonu.

Aa night tarvatha March 2024 lo Charminar area lo Metro construction workers oka antique coin set dig chesaru — Nizam era silver, 1948 pre-September date. Asar-e-Dakkan museum ki handover chesaru. Newspaper lo vacchindi aa news, Hyderabad Times March 14 edition. Azhar chadivadu. Silent ga nodded. Rina anedi appulu la — tirigina tarvatha kuda memory undi. Ammayakuni kuda memory preserve ayina prakaaram. Aa coins Museum lo display aytay 2024 May nunchi. Azhar oka Sunday Sanjana tho veerini chusadam ki vellaadu, 1940s-era Nizam coins — each coin fingerprint of a time when thousands of ancestors walked the same streets he now avoided.

Author's note

Real-world context: Wikipedia — Hyderabad

Old City Hyderabad naa ki deep connection undi. Maa mama Nawab Gunj lo oka paan shop undedi 1990s lo, Saturday morning ki nenu tana tho vellenu, irani chai tagaevaaram, Madina hotel lo biryani kosam line kattevalm. Daadi Charminar area lo 1948 Police Action chusindi — aa roju nunchi aa circle chuttu aame ki oka specific bhayam undi, midnight tarvatha aa route ki evrini veladhu ani. 2024 Bonalu season lo nenu Lal Darwaza procession chusanu, charminar chuttu crowd undi kaani silent ga — people vaalla ancestors gurthu chesaru. Ee story fictional, kaani Hyderabad Old City lo Swiggy-Zomato riders midnight routes lo unusual incidents gurinchi online groups lo discussion untayi. Yem jarigindi yevvariki telilledu, kaani History antey aa mosi ledu. Ilaanti midnight delivery experience mee ki jarigindha? Comments lo cheppandi.

— Sai Kiran · Lighted Tales

Original Telugu horror fiction. Folk-source material where referenced is public domain.

Modern characters, apartments, companies, and phone numbers are fictional.

Any resemblance to real persons, businesses, or events is coincidental.

Audio version: youtube.com/@Lightedtales

Further reading · Real-world context

Telugu horror stories

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