Aakari Bus — Part 4
The Last Bus — Part 4
Setting: The ghost bus (Hyderabad / Telangana).
In English: The Last Bus — Part 4. A Lighted Tales original Telugu horror story, written in Romanized Telugu (Tenglish) with Telangana dialect.
The Last Bus — Part 4
[DIARY FRAGMENT — Leather-bound notebook, 1968. Pale blue ink. Karimnagar-school cursive Telugu. Translated to Romanized Telugu for legibility.]
12 January 1968, Karimnagar Depot. Naa peru Kiran. Maa Naana peru Venkatram. Mankammathota daggara maa intlo pedhu lo vunnaanu. Karimnagar-Hyderabad RTC route lo conductor ga join chesanu last year — 1967 December. Ee route fresh undi, RTC aa route ni 1966 lo open chesaaru. Naaku aa salary 147 rupees monthly. Yenti inka? Maa amma ki 50 rupees pampisthaanu, maa chelli fees ki 30 ichhestanu, balance naku sajabuga untundi. Kaani raathri duty cheyyadam naaku kashtanga undi. Depot Incharge Ramakrishna Sastry garu — athanu pujari kuda Karimnagar Rajarajeshwara temple lo — naaku oka warning icchaaru. Ee route Hyderabad waraku NH-163 midha, rendu smashanamulu crosses — Gundlapochampally daggara, Gajwel daggara. Aa rendu smashanamulu route lo fresh, ippudu 1960s lo prathi month 2-3 bodies akkada pogupoduthaaru — Telangana famine 1966-67 tharvaata poor families adi afford cheyyadaaniki, government subsidized mass sites chesaaru. Sastry garu cheppinarru — 'Kiran, prathi amavasya raathri, ee bus lo okaru okaru ekkuthaaru, bus stop lekundaane. Vaaru cheppina place ki vaarini cherchu. Address rojuki nuvvu ki telusu — intuition la. Ela cheppali — this job has two layers. Oka layer official ga RTC salaried job. Inko layer oka arrachait duty — cross-sector duty ga, atha-nunchi ivva-rahita. Ee duty violate chesthe, bus permanent ga oka anachcha loop lo padipothundi. Pavitrata nuvvu gurinchaali — prathi month aa amavasya ritual lo nuvvu personal hygiene, diet, speech purity ni observe cheyyaali. Chepa, gudlu, mamsam — rendu days mundu nunchi vadhulukovaali. Manchi mind, manchi pranaayaamam, manchi speech.'
Bus lo, present. 11:58 PM. Kiran diary chadivinappudu.
Future Kiran aa diary Kiran chethiki teesi ichaaru. Leather cover. Pages yellow. Kiran chaala carefully chadivaaru, page number 1 nunchi. Inkaa matladaledhu. Bus velthundi, void lo, Koheda tharvaata, Karimnagar Bus Stand waraku 42 minutes. Clock lo.
Musalayana-conductor compartment lo ninchundi, Kiran chadivindi chusthunnaaru. Atani mukham ippudu slightly different ga kanipisthundi — softer. Athane 1968 lo aa yuvaka Kiran. Ippatiki Musalayana — 56 years ga ee bus lo.
[DIARY FRAGMENT — 27 January 1968, Amavasya raathri.]
Aa raathri naa mundu amavasya duty. Sastry garu naku cheppinattu — rendu days mundu nunchi vegetarian, Kanaka Durga kovela lo prathi ekkadaa rudra aavahana chesaanu. Manas lo guilty thoughts ledhu. Raathri 11:30 ki bus start — Karimnagar depot nunchi Hyderabad MGBS waraku. Malla 11:42 ki, NH-163 midha Jammikunta tharvaata, oka aavida hand raise chesaaru — bus stop ledhu akkada, middle of night lo. Nenu driver ki stop cheyyamani signal ichhaa. Aame ekkinappudu — tellati sari, blood stained on chest. Aame naa daggariki rachinchi koorchuni cheppaaru — 'Medak district, Kondapak village, maa intiki cherchu. Last stop adhi.' Nenu signal ichhaa driver ki. Bus Medak nuncchi Kondapak waraku detour teesukundi — auto-route lo. Naaku naa hand lo oka chinna copper coin — bus karuna-token — aame cheyyi lo pettaaru. Aa token nenu matra, aa aavida ni oka chinna brass bell ring tho acknowledge chesaanu. Aame oka smile tho bus lo koorchindi, eyes closed. Memu Kondapak chalthulo aame intiki edhuruga aagindi. Aa intlo oka funeral set ayindi — aame intlo unna family aame body ni musugunnaaru, kaani ippudu aame soul ni free cheyyadaaniki final dharsanam missing — aame death aa road midha oka accident ayindi, body vaalla intlo tevadam akkaru poyaaru. Nenu bus digaaka aame ni intiki naduchukonni vachanu. Aame inside velli, body vaipu velli, oka second aa body tho align aindi. Family feel chesaaru — room lo oka peace drop aindi. Nenu bayata ki chhi bus lo eekkanu. Bus Hyderabad waraku velli cherukundi — 6 AM ki, exactly.
Bus lo, present. 12:02 AM.
Kiran diary inka chadivaaru. Detail — ritual of purity, diet, cleanliness, brass bell, copper coin. Anni strict rules. Prathi amavasya, oka soul ki transit. Ee bus actually free-ga aa souls ni pampisthunde system — violence vicious cycle dissolve cheyyadaaniki. Karuna service. Kaani one condition — conductor paavitrata nilipayaali.
Kiran: "Mama, meeru ae pani ritual lo cheyyaledaa?"
Musalayana-conductor mukham down chesaaru. Oka deep exhale. Akashamlo oka crumpled leaf sound malli.
Musalayana: "1968 December 24. Christmas eve. Oka occasion undi, Railway colony lo mitr undedi, atani son's wedding. Manu andharam velli pogaalsindi. Nenu duty lo undi, amavasya aa Saturday. Naa mind tension, wedding feast lo chicken biryani serve chestaru. Aa peru vinte noorudistham. Naaku aa time lo dietary rules slightly bend chesaaru, nalugulu kalisi party lo vegetarian ga koorchunte awkward, naaku chaala hunger, oka piece inthe, itna offset cheyyabaruthaadhi ani rationalize chesaaru. Wedding lo chicken thinnaanu. Oka chicken leg. Just one. Tharvaata naa mouth wash chesaanu, rudram patinchesaanu. It should be fine, ani anipinchindhi. Enti, OCD anukunnavu emo ee rules ani. Night duty 11:30 ki modhalu ayinadi."
Kiran: "Aa night em ayindi?"
Musalayana: "11:42 ki NH-163 midha oka aavida raise chesindi cheyyi. Nenu signal ichhaanu. Aame ekkinappudu — body slightly transparent, kaani ekkina vaallu laane. Nenu copper token ivvaalani chethi lo thagilinchaanu. Aa copper atani cheyyi nunchi slid ayipoyindi — padipoyindi bus floor midha. Nenu aa moment lo realized — naa palms midha wedding feast grease signature. Adi invisible kaani aame body system aa signature ni registered chesindi. Aame vaipu chusaa — aame kallu panic ga widened. Nenu pick cheyyadaaniki vangaanu. Aame cheyyi aakashamlo konni seconds pillai la thadi thadi movements — ippude orphaned soul la. Atani destination — Siddipet daggara Pragnapur village — naaku intuition vasthundhi — kaani driver ki signal ivvalenu. Naa voice burst aindhi. Naa nalka numb — chicken piece wedding feast lo aged ammanu garam masala tho. Aame ni aa bus lo rakshinchali, route lekkaachakunda Pragnapur ki cherchaali — bus aa route teesukoledhu. Bus straight MGBS waraku velli agindi. Aame bus lo intlo poyindi. Naa hand nuncchi token fall — aa token ground midha naalugu split aindi. Four pieces.
[MUSALAYANA continued] "Aame escape cheyyaleni soul aipoyindi. Aame bus lo unda aipoyindi — permanent. Aa rendu dashabdhaala lo Aame inkaa bus lo ne undi. Part 2 lo nuvvu chusavu — Parvathi aunty. Aa aavida. 1968 nuncchi undi. Aame naa mistake consequence. Nenu single piece chicken biryani ki aame ni permanent prisoner chesaanu."
Kiran aa realization lo shocked. Parvathi aunty ki atani son '48' ani atanu cheppindhi — kaani aa math work avvaledhu 1987 death calculation lo. Part 2 lo, Parvathi cheppindi '1987'. Aa 'year' ame projected memory — atani son ippudu 48, kaani aame death 1987. 1987 ki son age 11 undedi. Accident 1987 — kaani aame actually ee bus lo 1968 nunchi. Aame memory aa bus lo glitch-deformed ayindi. Ee bus lo andhari memories kooduthu unnayi, blending.
[DIARY FRAGMENT — 25 December 1968, Christmas day 4 AM.]
Nenu intiki vaccheyyaledhu. Bus lo one round muginchaka, naa daggari Sastry garu kosam Rajarajeshwara temple ki velli convey chestha — oka mistake jarigindi. Sastry garu naa mukham chusaaru, kallu lo tears lekundaane, 'Babu, bus ni reset cheyyadaniki oka ritual undi. Rendu aavudalu — vegetarian diet 40 rojulu, Godavari lo mukkugooni snaanam 108 sahastranaama paathanam, prathi amavasya lo fresh penance. Inti nunchi bayata velli, saddha lo cheyyali — inkeppudu family ni chudamukunda. OR — sacrifice thanu bus ni. Nuvvu aa soul ki bus lo free cheyyadaaniki, nee physical body ni bus ki ivvaali. Nuvvu conductor ga permanent avvu. Eppudu bus runs antha time bus lo ne undu. Nee nave nuvvu transfer chesthav. Rendu vadhileyyalani anukuntav, deciding nuvvu chepakattali.'
[DIARY FRAGMENT — 15 February 1969. Last entry.]
40 rojulu chesaanu penance. Naa teacher ichchina mantra mukham lo sahastra paathanam. Godavari lo prathi roju snaanam. Mamsam chudanu. Manchi mind-thoughts cultivate chesaanu. Kaani — aa soul nee bus lo ne. Free avvaledhu. Naa diet purity recovered, kaani aa aavida ki damage undani stay aindi. Sastry garu cheppaaru — 'Kiran babu, violation oka saari jarigindhi, pure-state return aithaa bus clean avuthundhi. Kaani aa aavida physically body lo-integrate avvaledhu, ame bus ni physical body ga treat chesthu undi ippudu. Aame ippudu permanent passenger. Bus kooda permanent circulation lo.' Aa roju nuncchi, naaku option: bus ni abandon cheyyadam — aa permanent passenger-list ki responsibility ni chinna oka escape. Ledhante, nenu bus ki permanently commit avvadam — naa body ni substitute chesi, aame 'driver-soul' ga free avvadaaniki. Aame 'driver-soul' avvadaaniki — Parvathi-soul aa seat lo ekkaali, driver control lo ravaali, bus ni nee consciousness tho inka 56 years circulate cheyyaali. Nenu aa seat ni ippudu fill chesaanu. Parvathi aunty — Part 2 lo ame story — ame 37 years ga wait chesthundi son Prateek kosam. Ippati paridhi lo, Prateek ippudu atani kosam release kaavaali — Kiran babu, nuvvu atani ki Parvathi scarf memorial message ivvadam — Parvathi ki release. Parvathi release ayithe — driver seat malli new soul kosam open avuthundi. Naaku free avvadam — only possible — Parvathi release ayithe, nenu conductor position vacate cheyyavachu. Kaani aa release time Parvathi body ki transit — oka new seat occupant kaavaali. Nuvvu — Kiran 2024 — nuvvu aa transit body kaavaali. Nuvvu decide cheyyali. Conscious ga. Ledhante — 2044 lo future-you ee seat lo hand over kaanee.
Bus lo, present. 12:15 AM.
→ Idey theme lo inka oka katha: Aakari Bus — Part 3
Kiran diary ni close chesaaru. Chethulu tadi pooyayi. Kaani atanu chaala slow ga inhale exhale chesaaru — bus lo aa crumpled-leaf sound rahitam ga, atanu normal human breath. Future Kiran last row lo smile tho ne ninchundaaru. Atanu Kiran responsibility ni oke saari understand chesaaru.
Kiran: "Mama, Parvathi aunty ni release cheyyadaaniki, nenu Prateek ki pink scarf message genuine ga deliver cheyyaali. Adi mere duty kaadhu, prathi 37 years wait ni acknowledge chesi, genuine devotion tho. Correct?"
Musalayana: "Correct. Andharu 23 mandhi. Prathi okkari ki genuine acknowledge. Ippudu 23 mandhi tho koorchoni matladinavu, konni daggara honest, konni superficial. Nee mind lo note pettukunnavu, which ones you were fully open, which ones you rushed. Honest assessment cheyyi."
Kiran brain scan chesaaru. 23 passengers. Initial list — Parvathi, Satwik, 13-year-old pilla, Nizamabad farmer, 2019 IT manager, inkaa inkaa. Atanu 8 mandhi tho genuine connection chesaaru — Parvathi, Satwik, Ramesh-taatha (Jammikunta train episode ee bus lo replay), Nishika, aa 13-year-old pilla, Nizamabad farmer, Warangal express 2017 accident lo chanipoyina college girl, Kamareddy lo 1994 auto accident lo chanipoyina lab technician. 15 mandhi tho atanu superficial, checklist ga.
Kiran: "Inka 15 mandhi undaru. Nenu antha time teesukoni honest ga matladaalsindhi."
Musalayana: "Karimnagar Bus Stand waraku 25 minutes undi. Nee vaipu 15 mandhi, prathi okkaridi 90 seconds matram. Touch cheyyyi. Prathi okkari kahanee baby-step, genuine acknowledgment. Ledhante Parvathi release avvaledhu. Nuvvu ee conductor position take cheyyaleka poythav. Bus repeat loop. Final."
Kiran lechaaru. Inka atani chaithra lo tickets — original ∞ resolve chesinadhi (28/06/2024), rendovadhi empty destination with dual dates. Atanu rendintiniki chethi lo hold chesinadhi. Aa rendu tickets ippudu weight ga feel avuthundi — physical weight not, moral weight.
Atanu mundu row ki velli, oka farmer kosam stop chesaadu — Nizamabad 2004, truck crushing accident. Atani peru Yeshwanth. Atanu atani wife Malkangiri area lo inka ayana kosam ringi ringi vechchechi unnaaru. Kiran Yeshwanth ki cheppaaru — aa specific road pole, aa specific truck driver's company (fictional — Shivashakti Carriers, Nizamabad branch), aa wife's brother's phone Kiran ki phone book lo ledhu kaani adha prevent chesthu undevaanu Malkangiri lo morem-leading action via community. Kiran honestly cheppaaru — "Pedhaaraa, Malkangiri naaku easy travel kaadhu. Kaani naa friend Rithvik aa area lo pani chesthunnaadu — Agriculture extension officer, Nizamabad. Atanni ki aa story ni pampi, atanu nee wife ki deliver cheyyagaladu. Promise. Seven days. Naa phone lo calendar lo note petukuntaa."
Yeshwanth atani vaipu chetlinga gnayyabadu. Oka atani arachaithi Kiran vaipu vaccindi — traditional Telangana farmer greeting, palms open.
Yeshwanth: "Babu, nuvvu easy ga commit cheyyaledhu. Straightforward ga cheppaav. Thanks."
Kiran oka deep breath. Inka 14.
12:30 AM. Kiran 13 mandhi tho honest conversations muginchaaru. Prathi okkari kosam oka action item — specific, small, executable. Atanu phone lo typing chesaadu — phone screen ippatiki dim ga ready.
Last row ki velli, 14th person — Future Kiran.
Kiran: "Nenu nuvvu aa 20 years ki enduku destination ga ninnu kuda pilvaaru?"
[FUTURE KIRAN] "Nenu asalu memu, nenu 2044 Kiran ga, kaani 'nenu' not unique. Ee bus prathi 20 years lo next conductor ni collect cheyyadaaniki oka chain, prathi 20 years oka ticket 20 years out dated form lo resolve avuthundi. 1968 Kiran, Musalayana. 1988 lo ame vare Kiran, aa athanu 8 years pani chesaaru, pitching point, abandoned chesaaru bus ni, aa run loop frozen ayyindi. 2008 lo malli option vacchaadi, inko Kiran vacchadu, atanu 2024 ki final seat lo koorchunnaaru, bus dormant 16 years aindi. Ippudu tharvaata new collector drive ni restart chesindi, adi nuvvu. Nuvvu Hyderabad-born, Karimnagar roots, name Kiran, criteria match. Ee roju nuvvu decide cheyyavu, nenu 2044 Kiran position lo ne ni take chestha, ninnu bus lo permanent trap chestha."
Kiran lops heavy breath thisukunnaaru.
Kiran: "Nee situation ippudu em?"
[FUTURE KIRAN] "Nenu 2044 lo die ayyanu. Same pattern, straightforwardness lack, karuna lack, accumulated compromises. Naa funeral ki 12 mandhi vacchaaru, eight family members inka four colleagues. Naa life worth appudu. Ee bus naa ticket collect chesindhi. Nenu ee loop lo 8 months 15 days aindi. Nuvvu if driver-position accept cheyyaku, nenu permanent passenger avutaa. If decide cheyyaku, default ga 2044 nenu driver ga come aipotaa. Nuvvu ippudu full straightforwardness tho choose cheyyali. Karimnagar Bus Stand 12:40 ki choose."
Kiran: "Nee ki nenu em ivvagalanu? Nee release kosam?"
[FUTURE KIRAN] "Nuvvu nenu ane kadhu, memu same consciousness, different timelines. Nee release = naa release. Nee choice = naa fate. Sastry garu 1968 lo cheppinattu, conductor position sacrifice requires body-ivadam, soul-free-cheyyadam inko soul ni. Prateek ki pink scarf kavita message deliver cheythe, Parvathi release avuthundi. Parvathi release ayithe, driver seat-soul slot open avuthundi. Aa slot ki okaru enter cheyyali, either nuvvu (decision) leda me (default)."
Kiran window vaipu chusadu. Bus inkaa void lo. Kaani ippudu distance lo — Karimnagar Bus Stand board — dim neon, 15 km away ga oka green kilometer-stone.
Atanu diary malli open chesaaru, last page. Musalayana aakari entry:
Ee diary next Kiran ki hand over chesthaanu. Atanu chadivi, naa mistakes pattukunnattu. Aa mistakes tone-deaf bharava kadhu — pavitrata oka service-job lo heavy burden, kaani inavasaaram. Prathi chinna compromise — chicken piece oka, wedding feast oka — aa 37 years Parvathi aunty ki cost avuthundhi. Chinnathanam ga chudakandi. Physical cleanliness, speech cleanliness, thought cleanliness. Rendu layers ga. Next Kiran — nuvvu aa chinappati lesson gurthu pettuko. Bus lo aitey, bus lo bayata aitey. Aa aalavatu adi prarabdha ni reset chesthundi.
→ Pakkana ee story kuda chadavandi: Aakari Bus — Part 5
Kiran diary close chesi, Future Kiran chethi lo mallah ichaaru. Future Kiran smile chesaaru.
[FUTURE KIRAN] "Bus Stand approach avuthundi. Nee choice ready untey, Part 5 daggariki nuvvu tisukelu."
Bus inkaa hum raise chesindi. Ippudu inko sound — chinnaga bell sound. Brass bell. 1968 lo Musalayana oka brass bell tho souls ki acknowledge chese time la. Bus lo andharu — 23 mandhi plus Future Kiran plus Kiran — andharu aa bell vinnaru.
Musalayana-conductor Kiran ki rendu options official ga repeat chesaaru.
Musalayana: "Karimnagar Bus Stand 8 minutes. Choose: Ticket One (28/06/2024), nee physical body last stop, nuvvu bus ki commit cheyyi, body ee bus ki substitute avuthundhi, 23 mandhi release, naa free, Future-Kiran free. Ledhante: Ticket Two (28/06/2044), nuvvu digu, 2024 bodily continue, 20 years jeevinchav, 2044 lo driver avvu. Both valid. Both karuna-committed, Ticket One immediate, Ticket Two deferred. Choose straight."
Kiran rendu tickets ni pattukuni oka intiki chepukunnaaru. Aa decision — straight honest ga ela cheyyi alani.
Part 5 lo — choice, doorway, final sentence.
Real-world context: Wikipedia — TSRTC
To be continued in Part 5...
Ee Part 4 lo 1968 origin revealed aindi. Musalayana atanu Kiran laane — chinapudu Karimnagar Mankammathota boy, 1967 lo RTC conductor, amavasya ritual duty, chicken biryani slip, Parvathi aunty 37 years stuck. Kiran ippudu decision ki close avuthunnaaru. Part 5 next Friday — doorway, voices whispering, final choice. Comments lo: Ticket One vs Ticket Two — mee expectation chepandi.
Author's note
Ee Part 4 rayadaaniki Nenu maa Naana ni call chesaaru — atanu 2001 waraku railway lo pani chesedavaaru. Adugaanu — "Nana, raathri duty lo meeku emanna ritual rules undevina?" Atanu navvaaru — pedhu laughter. "Abbayi, naaku official rules levu — kaani personal ga prathi Friday kontha upavasam, Hanuman mantra chadavadam, aa anni follow ayyaanu. Night duty lo mind peaceful ga undaalsinadhi. Signal cabin lo okaru okaru kadhalu chepekunda, nuvvu matram nuvvu ni pure ga katukovaali."
Atani maata nuncchi ee story fiction skeleton vacchindi. 1968 Karimnagar depot Kiran — fictional character. Sastry garu — fictional pujari character. Kaani aa 'night-duty discipline' real. 1960s lo Telangana famine real — 1966-67. Aa time lo body disposition, government subsidy, mass cremation — historical record. Ee context lo fiction weave chesaanu.
Comments open. Part 5 next Friday — final choice. Ready avvandi.
— 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
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