Garuda Madhyarathri
Garuda Midnight
Setting: Highway Garuda sleeper (Hyderabad / Telangana).
In English: Garuda Midnight. A Lighted Tales original Telugu horror story, written in Romanized Telugu (Tenglish) with Telangana dialect.
Garuda Midnight
Last week nenu Karimnagar nuncchi Hyderabad ki return ayyaanu, atharvathe maa office colleague Tejesh oka story cheppaaru lunch lo. Atanu Hyderabad lo product manager, frequently Vijayawada ki velthuntadu — vaallaki ammamma Gudivada lo undi. Kaani aa last journey tharvaata, atanu malli Garuda sleeper ekkadaaniki bhayapaduthu undevaaru. Story nennu atanu permission tho blog kosam rasthunnaanu — details slightly fiction blend chesaanu, kaani core atanu cheppinattey. Ayeshwaryam lo atanu ippudu intlo ne stay chesthunnaaru Thursday night lu, pelli ayye waraku. Aa kaaranam — aa Garuda. Atanu peru atanu fictional ga petataniki chepaadu — so atani peru Tejesh.
Tejesh Hyderabad MGBS nuncchi 11:30 PM Garuda sleeper ki ticket book chesaaru — Berth 34, lower. Vijayawada ki 5:45 AM cherukovaali. Maa manager atani ki 'Friday afternoon meeting' confirm chesaaru, so atanu Thursday night bus teesukuni, Friday morning intiki velli, Saturday-Sunday family tho, Sunday night wapasu.
Bus kidhaapindi ontime. Garuda full AC, sleeper 2x1 layout. Atani Berth 34 one-side single, aa paina 33 upper single. Atanu ticket check chesaaru — Berth 33 vacant, unoccupied. Booking system lo no passenger assigned. Atani conductor atanu ki cheppaadu, "Sir, adhi empty undi. Meeru ice maimarathuna lepakunda recreate cheyyi."
Tejesh nod chesaaru. Phone charger plug chesaaru, AC vent adjust chesaaru, pillows set chesaaru. Curtain moosaaru. NH-65 midha bus Vijayawada vaipu. Rain slight ga. Atanu headphones pettukoni, Spotify lo Lofi hip-hop, melakuva 12:45 AM waraku maathrame. Akkada nunchi oka problem start aindi.
Important context — Tejesh intlo matalaadadaaniki atanu ni motivate chesaaru. Atanu maa office lo 6 years ga unnaaru, nenu 4 years ga. Nenu atani seniorship ni respect chesthaanu — atanu leader ga friendly, introvert, never-over-sharing. Aa last 2 months lo atanu Thursday night lu strictly avoid chestunnaru any commitment — oka Thursday lo CEO ki atanu 'no' cheppadam nenu saw, adi atanu ki unusual. Adigaanu lunch break lo. Atanu half coffee sipping lo, slow exhale tho, ee story cheppaadu — first time, naa knowledge lo, atanu share chesindhi. Ippudu story.
12:47 AM. Atani curtain bayata nuncchi oka hand atani bhujam midha touch aindhi. Shake chesindi.
Atanu melakuva vacchaadu. Curtain kobathu theriche, bayata chusaaru — empty corridor, dim LED lights, conductor front lo ninchundi oka passenger tho maatladuthunnaaru. Evvaru atani curtain daggara leedhu.
Atanu 'emo bhavana' anukunaaru — travel tiredness. Malli padukunnadu.
1:15 AM. Shake mari vacchindhi. Raabaddatam gattiga. Chanchalam ledhu, direct pressure — oka chethi bhujam midha adimi. Atanu lechaaru — lechina speed lo curtain cheerina. Evvaru ledhu.
Kaani ippudu — Berth 33 daggara oka sound vacchindhi. Low exhale. Edho crumpled leaf la — paatha newspaper ni slow ga squeeze chesthunnattu.
Berth 33 upper — empty. Booking system lo vacant. Kaani aa exhale akkada nuncchi vachindhi.
Tejesh phone torch on chesaaru. Torch light Berth 33 ki aimed chesaaru.
Berth 33 bed sheet pressed la ga undi — oka weight midha koorchunnattu. Kaani body ledhu. Pillow slight depression.
Tejesh mind lo rationalization — 'bed sheet untapped ga load pettinappudu adi la undevache, factory manufacturing. Nenu over-thinking.' Atanu torch off chesaaru. Lechi conductor ki adigaadu.
→ Idey theme lo inka oka katha: Aakari Bus — Part 5
Conductor: "Sir, Berth 33 vacant. Evvaru ekkaleda. Mee bhramana, occasionally passengers ga bus seats midha ga feel avuthaaru. Normal."
Tejesh nod chesaaru, kaani mind lo no peace. Atanu malli Berth 34 ki return ayyaaru. Inkaa 3:30 waraku sleep avvadam try chesaaru.
2:40 AM. Aa shake vacchindhi malli. Ippudu — oka different quality. Gentle. Patient. Edho atanu attention teesukundi ga wake cheyyalsina responsibility undi la.
Atanu this time melakuva ra pakka, eyes closed ga ne atanu listened. Oka breathing. Lean breaths. Tharvaata oka whisper.
Whisper: "Tejesh, kshamayi ivvalsindhi."
Atani peru. Atani actual peru. Conductor ki atanu only ticket name icchaaru, aa ticket midha atanu full name — Tejesh Kumar Sharma. Aa short form Tejesh atani family inka close friends matrame use chestharu. Stranger ki adi telvadu.
Tejesh kallu opened chesaaru slow ga. Ippudu curtain corner ki oka faint outline undi — oka person la shape, lean, dim. Bus AC vent air aa shape ni slight ga disturb chesthundi. Kaani shape collapse avvaledhu.
[TEJESH - WHISPER] "Evaru nuvvu?"
Outline: "Nee chinnanna Raghav. Nuvvu naaku kshamayi ivvaledu 1998 lo."
Chinnanna. Raghav. Atani amma chinna tammudu. 1998 lo atanu suicide chesukunnadu. Atanu 24 years old appudu — Kakatiya University student, love failure, pressure, alcohol. Family ki shame, hush chesaaru, funeral minimal, atani photo Tejesh intlo ne pedatam ki amma accept cheyyaledhu. Tejesh 10 years old appudu — atanu Raghav tho chinnapudu Charminar ki velli pravaldam, Nehru zoo park lo elephant ride, Lumbini park boat ride — all memories. Atanu favorite 'chinnanna'.
Raghav chanipoyaka, Tejesh amma cheppindhi — 'Atanu naaku shame. Atani peru repeat cheyyaku. Atani photos throw chesaa. Atanu mana family lo ledu, ippatiki.' Young Tejesh amma maata accept chesaadu. Atanu kuda Raghav ni mind lo block chesaaru. Birthday anniversary Raghav ki (September 7), atanu note cheyyaledhu. Atanu gurthu pettukoledhu.
Atanu kshamayi ivvaledhu — suicide ane 'weakness' ki, family ki 'shame' teeshukuvaccinadhi — atanu amma la, child Tejesh la anukuntuku maricchindu anti. Adhi atani un-process grief, judgment, weight of un-acknowledged love.
[TEJESH - CHOKED WHISPER] "Chinnaaa... Raghav chinnaa..."
Raghav: "Tejesh, 26 years nunchi nenu wait chesthunnaanu. Okkaru kuda naaku prayer deepam pettatledhu. Naa birthday lo oka saari kuda gurthu cheyyaleedhu. Amma naa peru cheppakunda prohibited chesindhi, nuvvu nammaay. Nenu chinappudu nuvvu ki chaala sahaayam chesaanu, school ki drop, chocolates, cinemas, gurthu undh? Aa chinapudu nenu ki nuvvu laughter ichhinav. Naa heart tho nuvvu connect ayyav. Tharvaata naa error, naa weakness, jarigindi. Adi naa choice, naa failure. Kaani mee andhari punishment nenu meeku laed, naaku maathram nunchu. Kshamayi ivvaledu, 26 years nuncchi naaku seat ledu. Ee bus, NH-65 midha prathi Thursday, naaku temporary seat. Nenu kuda ippudu family ki raaledu. Nenu ikkada. Okkade."
Tejesh aa kshanamlo athani face midha tears. Atanu chinapudu Raghav chinnanna tho Lumbini park boat ride — atanu Raghav atani ki tho ballon konnadadu, aa balloon atani hand nunchi air lo velli poyindhi, atanu cry chesaaru. Raghav atani ki inko balloon konnadu, aa tho paatu atanu ki cheppaadu — 'Tejesh abbayi, balloon pothe, inko balloon konochhu. Kaani people pothe, inko person raadu. Aa people ni manam heart lo pattukuni undaali.'
Aa maata Tejesh ki aa moment lo flood ga vacchinadhi. Atanu heart lo Raghav chinnanna ni pattukuni undaledu. Block chesaaru. Amma maatalaki taleheduku teshaaru. Judgment inherit chesaaru.
Tejesh: "Chinnaaa, sorry. Nenu ninnu judge chesaanu. Nenu ninnu block chesaanu. Nenu amma maatalaki paise ga accept chesaanu. Nuvvu weak kaadhu, nuvvu ki aa moment lo help kaavalsindhi, nenu appudu 10 years. Naaku aa help ivvadaaniki telvaledu. Ippudu telusu. Kshamayi nuvvu ki cheyyaali, nuvvu naaku kshamayi iyyi, I'm sorry chinnaa. Very sorry."
Outline wavered. Slightly firmer. Shape slightly cleared.
Raghav: "Tejesh, kshamayi aa word priceless. Naaku okkadu pillavadu cheppina, aa word priceless. 26 years lo okkadu kuda. Ippudu nuvvu. Thank you. Amma ki cheppaledhu, adhi aame process. Kaani nee heart lo naaku space ivvu. September 7, naa birthday. Oka deepam pettalo Rajarajeshwara temple Karimnagar lo. Nenu akkada naa ammamma photo pakkana ravaali, paatha photo, 1996 Diwali lo tisindhi. Aa photo nuvvu ni intlo, naa ammamma cupboard lo, lower drawer, plastic cover lo undi. Nuvvu aa photo teesi, reborder chesi, Rajarajeshwara lo deepam pakkana temple priest ki ivvu, atanu regular ga Ashwija month lo deepam lighting chestharu family photos ki. Naaku aa ritual akkadi nuncchi peace ivvachu. Nuvvu gurthu pettukuntaav?"
Tejesh: "Pettukuntaa chinna. September 7. Diwali 1996 photo. Ammamma cupboard lower drawer. Rajarajeshwara temple. Promise."
Outline waved slight. Oka soft smile chhote Tejesh ki visible. Tharvaata aa outline fade ayipoyindhi.
→ Pakkana ee story kuda chadavandi: Warangal Express Aakari Seat
Bus inkaa velthundi. Rain continued. Berth 33 bed sheet pillow depression straightened ga aipoyindi. Oka gentle warmth Tejesh body lo.
3:45 AM. Aa tharvaata sleep deep ga. 5:45 AM Vijayawada ki cherukunnaaru bus. Tejesh digaaru. Conductor atani ki nod chesaadu. "Sir, Berth 33 — emi ayindhi? Mee ki emanna issues?"
Tejesh: "Sir, Berth 33 ippudu empty? Or inka?"
Conductor: "Sir, adhi ippatiki ne vacant. Ippude nenu check chesaanu. Evvaru ekkaledhu."
Tejesh smile chesaaru. "Empty ippudu, correct. Inka permanent ga empty undugaak."
Atanu intiki velli ammamma ki cheppaadu directly — "Ammamma, naaku Raghav chinnanna Diwali 1996 photo kaavali. Nee cupboard lower drawer lo undani naaku telusu." Ammamma surprise ga choosindhi. Aa photo teeshaaru — plastic cover lo, dust layer, 28 years paatha, kaani Raghav face clear. Ammamma kallu lo tears. "Naa thammudu nuvvu enduku gurthu chesaavu babu?" Tejesh story cheppaledhu — atani amma inkaa judgment lo undi, aame ki ok kaadhu. Atanu matram cheppaadu — "Ammamma, naaku gurthu vacchindhi. Atanu naa chinapudu chaala prema icchaadu. Ippudu atani peru temple lo deepam lo raavali."
September 7. Kiran — I mean Tejesh — Karimnagar Rajarajeshwara temple ki velli, pujari ki Raghav photo ichaadu. Pujari atanu ni puja lo include chesaaru — Ashwija month lo family-photo deepam prathi sandhya. Tejesh intiki return ayyaaru.
Aa raathri Tejesh dream lo Raghav chinnanna vacchaaru — Lumbini park boat lo, hand lo balloon, smiling. Dream lo atanu cheppaaru — 'Tejesh, seat ippudu undi. Thank you.' Tejesh melakuva vaccchinappudu mukham midha tears, kaani heart lo peace.
Atanu ippatiki Garuda sleeper ekkuthunnaaru — kaani Thursday raathri lu kaadhu. Fridays, Saturdays. Berth 33 gurincha pattedhu. Atanu gurthu pettukunnaaru — prathi Thursday amavasya aithe — atanu ki Karimnagar lo atanu Raghav chinnanna ki deepam pettali.
Tejesh lunch mumchi chesaaru. Atanu aa deepam November nuncchi continue chesthunnaaru — last 7 months nunchi. Atani amma inka story nammatam ledhu, kaani atanu direct avvaledhu — aame own journey tholinunchi. Atanu matram Rajarajeshwara pujari tho monthly phone call lo undi — aa deepam regular ga vasthundi ani confirm chesthaaru. Atanu mundu mundu aa photo ni reframe chesi, atani intlo oka wall midha petataaniki plan chesthunnaaru — maybe Diwali 2024 naatiki. Aa photo atani cousin ki surprise kuda — aa cousin kuda Raghav chinnanna ki close ga undedi, kaani adi kuda family-wide suppress lo poindhi.
Real-world context: Wikipedia — TSRTC
Atanu naaku aakari ga ichhina message — "Kiran, naaku chinapudu oka saari amma cheppindhi 'kshamayi oka blessing, memory oka blessing'. Kaani kshamayi ivvadaaniki hakku memorization ni demand chesthundi. Mana memory lo vaarini active ga ungaalsinadhi. Uncomfortable ga aithe kuda. Aa uncomfortable zone lo kshamayi nijam ga grow avuthundi."
Atani maata naaku hit ayyayi. Naaku kuda oka cousin undi — 2011 lo diabetes complications tho chanipoyadu, 32 age. Naa amma atani peru adagadam ki uncomfortable untundi — aame guilt lo — atanu ki konni important medical decisions mainstream care vaadalani aame argue chesindhi, atanu family expectations meerakunda ignored, tharvaata complications. Aa cousin peru naaku gurthu undi kaani intlo discuss undadu. Ee Tejesh story tharvaata, nenu naa amma ki Bharath — aa cousin peru — gurincha matlaadadaaniki try chesaanu. First conversation difficult ga undi. Aame cried. Kaani tharvaata peace.
Story naadu ki oka action point ichhindhi.
Author's note
Ee story naa real colleague inspired aa core lo. Atani peru change chesaanu permission tho. 1998 lo oka chinnanna suicide case — nenu personal ga telusu naa extended family lo — aa trauma how families process, judge, block — adhi naaku chaala aalochinta ayinadhi. Atani memory ni aktively exclude chesindi mee ammama family. Rendu decades tharvaata, naa cousin oka saari aa chinnanna gurinchi matladaaru pedda moments lo — at a family wedding in 2022 — andharam aa topic ni laali ga chesthunnaaru, kaani atanu lechaaru. Nenu atani lo oka change — oka burden drop. Aa burden ni kshamayi anedhi.
Raghav character fictional, kaani emotion real. Garuda sleeper Hyderabad-Vijayawada route — real TSRTC/APSRTC service, actually running. Berth 33 kuda — single sleeper config lo aa number possible. Ee anubhavam mee ki kuda jarigindha? Oka family member blocked ga undaaru mee lo? Comments lo cheppandi — shareing oka kshamayi rupam.
— Sai Kiran · Lighted Tales
© 2026 Sai Kiran Pandrala / Lighted Tales · https://teluguhorrorstories.blogspot.com
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
Comments
Post a Comment