Falaknuma Nokari Gadi
Falaknuma Servant Quarter
Setting: Falaknuma Palace (Hyderabad / Telangana).
In English: Falaknuma Servant Quarter. A Lighted Tales original Telugu horror story, written in Romanized Telugu (Tenglish) with Telangana dialect.
Falaknuma Servant Quarter
Arshad: "Naveen bhai, mee ki keys ichaa. Quarter 24. Mundhu fungus check cheyyandi, tarwatha master inspection plan."
Naveen: "Arshad bhai, ee 24 number ki keys mundhu sealed ga undedi anta. Naa ki training documents lo mention undi, 'permanent seal, Nizam-era, do not open without supervisor approval.' Mee ki approval undi naa ki order ki?"
Arshad: "Naveen, hotel GM directly ichaaru order. February 20 mid-management meeting lo decision , 24 unit refurbish cheyyali, future ki staff overflow accommodation potential. Approval signed ga, file naa daggara. Mee ki photo copy paste cheyyaali messa lo? Mee fungus check, photos teesi report. 30 minutes max."
Naveen: "Arshad bhai, mee 30 minutes lo memu cheyyaali aa. Naaku gurthu chinna ga, aa quarter mundhu cheppedi konni 'haunted' la rumours staff lo. Naa serious ga teeskovaledhu, kaani naa first day ee assignment ki, naaku cautious."
Arshad: "Naveen bhai, hotel staff superstitions ekkuva. 230 staff members aa 24 quarter gurinchi 6 versions cheppthaaru. Mee ki naa cheppedhi , facts teesko. Quarter sealed 1948 nunchi, atanu structurally sound, atanu maintenance reasons kosam. Refurb decision business ga. Mee photos teesi report , naaku 6 PM ki forward cheyyandi."
Naveen Reddy ki age 26, Karimnagar nunchi Hyderabad ki shift ayina 8 months ago. Atanu hospitality management diploma, Charminar Institute of Hotel Management (fictional) nunchi 2024 lo. Atanu Taj Falaknuma Palace lo entry-level operations associate, joining date January 2025. Aame palace heritage hotel — Vicar-ul-Umra Sir Vicar-ul-Umra Bahadur 1894 lo build chesaaru, Nizam VI ki 1897 lo gift, Nizam VII Mir Osman Ali Khan official residence ga 1948 waraku. 1948 Police Action tarwatha palace closed, decades lo decay, 2000 lo Taj Group lease, 10 years restoration, 2010 lo opening as luxury heritage hotel.
Servant quarters palace east wing back ki, 28 units total, single-room each. Original era lo personal staff accommodations — butlers, kitchen staff, music attendants. 1948 tarwatha closed. Restoration 2010 lo 23 units refurbished modern staff dormitories ga, 5 units (numbers 24-28) "structural concerns" ani sealed left, locked doors, no entry signage.
Arshad Khan, 45, hotel maintenance supervisor, atanu naa training officer Naveen ki. Atanu instructions tho 24 number unit ki Naveen ki access. Atanu Naveen tho ground floor maintenance office lo briefing complete ayyaaru 4:45 PM ki. Naveen toolkit teeskuni atanu unit ki vellaaru.
5:00 PM ki Naveen unit 24 main door dheggara cherukunaaru. Heavy wooden door, original 1894 era, brass handle, padlock added 1950s emo style. Keys atanu daggara. Padlock open chesaaru — slow ga, atanu mechanism stiff ga 77 years inactivity tho. Door push chesaaru.
Inside — small room, 12x10 feet, single window (boarded up outside), single ceiling fan (blade rust), single iron cot, oka small wooden almirah, oka chinna wooden table. Walls lime-washed original ga, paint peeling. Floor rough granite tile.
Almirah atanu attention attract chesindhi. Wooden, 5-foot height, 3-foot width, double doors. Naveen door pull chesaaru — door slow ga opened, hinge creaking.
Inside almirah — clothes. Folded ga, neat ga.
Naveen mind blank ga.
Atanu chusina clothes — oka full set butler uniform, traditional Nizam-era style. White cotton kurta, black sherwani vest, white pyjama, black silk waistband, oka small white turban (nawabi style, with kalgi feather attachment). Atanu cotton fresh ga, no fungus, no dust accumulation visible — atanu freshly pressed ga.
Aa cotton smell — oka faint fragrance, sandalwood plus rose-water. Heritage cleaner, atanu Nizam-era staff uniform standard ga.
Naveen ki body cold sweat — small of back lo damp feel, neck hair light prickle. Atanu Karimnagar lo grandfather aa kind of attar fragrance gurthu — atanu thaata Hyderabad lo 1960s lo work chesedi oka chinna textile shop lo, atanu ki samples bring chesedi intiki.
Atanu phone teesi photo teesaaru. Almirah open view, clothes folded. Flash on. Photo captured.
Atanu door vaipu thirigi nadichaaru, exit cheyyaali ani. Almirah door close cheyyaledhu — atanu instinct tho — close cheyyaali ani anukunna, kaani atanu hands cold ga reluctant ga.
Atanu room lo left side wall ki — oka chinna writing peeling lime under visible. Pencil scratches, faint, Urdu script. Atanu phone flash on chesi closer chusaaru.
Urdu lo writing — "Mohammed Salim, butler, room 24, since 1944. Allah hafiz Hyderabad."
Date undi below — "15 September 1948."
→ Idey theme lo inka oka katha: Taramati Baradari Raathri
Atanu freeze. 1948 September 15 — Police Action mid-period. Indian Army Hyderabad State ki entry chesaaru aa September 13. Police Action 5 days, September 13-17. Mass casualties, atanu widely-reported.
Mohammed Salim — butler, this room since 1944. Allah hafiz Hyderabad. Atanu farewell signature, atanu seemed.
Atanu phone teesi Arshad ki message chesaaru — "Bhai, naaku 5 minutes lo report cheppthaa. Naaku oka unique observation. Mee ki photo pampisthaa."
Atanu reply ledhu immediately. Naveen continue chesaaru room scan.
Cot midha — folded prayer mat, modern cotton kaani, original-era heavy ga. Atanu crisp ga, fresh ga. Like used recently.
Table midha — oka small kerosene lamp, glass chimney clean ga. Atanu lamp wick fresh ga, atanu burned-end black, atanu used recently signal.
Naveen heart rate increasing. Atanu professional self talk — "Naveen, tu rational. Aa lamp, aa mat, aa clothes — atanu maintained ga, kaani atanu mystery ki manishi answer kavali. Mundhu ki Arshad bhai ki call cheyyali."
Atanu phone direct call. Arshad pickup —
Arshad: "Naveen, em jarigindhi? Mee voice tense ga."
Naveen: "Arshad bhai, naa unit 24 lo unna. Inside almirah lo butler uniform freshly pressed undi. Wall midha 1948 farewell signature. Mat freshly used, lamp freshly used. Naaku ee unit '77 years sealed' kaadu , naaku ee unit recently active ga undi seemed. Naa ki ee assignment uncomfortable."
Arshad: Pause. Atanu silent ga 4 seconds. "Naveen, ee unit ki access naa nunchi ki kaadu, naa supervisor nunchi naaku padindhi. Mee me told 'fungus check, refurb potential.' Naaku ee unit specifically ki history teliyali , naa promotion 2018 lo, ee unit gurinchi naaku verbal ga briefing , 'do not enter without senior management approval, structural concerns'. Senior management ee saari approval ichaaru. Naaku reasons teliyadhu , ekkuva business decisions kosam. Mee me feedback isthaa, naaku ee report critical ga document cheyyaalsina."
Arshad: "Naveen, mee ki naa instruction , door close cheyyandi padlock back, keys naa office lo deposit, 6 PM ki personal meet ki vacchandi. Photos pampakandi WhatsApp ki. Personal handover only."
Naveen: "Arshad bhai, naaku okay. Keys office lo deposit chesthaa, 6 PM ki vasthaa."
Naveen door close chesaaru. Padlock reseal chesaaru. Atanu corridor lo nadichaaru exit vaipu. Atanu mind racing.
Atanu corridor lo half-way ki vellaru — atanu pakkana oka chinna sound, scratch ga, oka door wood ki.
Atanu thirigi chusaaru. Unit 24 door — closed ga, padlocked ga. Sound stopped.
Atanu nadichaaru continue. 4 steps tarwatha — same scratch sound, slightly louder. Inside the door, like a fingernail on wood.
Atanu freeze. Atanu ki forearms midha cold goosebumps. Atanu ki ears lo own pulse audible.
Atanu thirigi chusaaru door vaipu. Door silent.
Atanu phone teesi voice memo on chesaaru, exit door dheggara walked, atanu palace east wing main exit ki vellaadu rapid ga. Atanu hand shaking, keys jingle.
Maintenance office lo Arshad atanu wait chesthunaaru. Naveen voice memo present chesaaru — atanu memo lo aa scratch sound captured ga, faint kaani audible. Arshad listen chesi atanu silent ga.
→ Pakkana ee story kuda chadavandi: Charminar Minaret Naluguru
Arshad: "Naveen, mee voice memo evidence ga critical. Naaku tomorrow general manager ki briefing schedule. Mee ki naa request , ee report personal ga, evvariki cheppakandi staff communication lo. Naa management decision ki forward."
Naveen agree chesaaru.
Tuesday March 11 morning ki Arshad ki update — "Naveen, hotel GM ee report review chesaaru. Decision 24 unit refurbish ki indefinite ga postponed. Atanu unit malli sealed ga continue. Naaku heritage consultation ki external expert engage ki authorize. Mee report critical."
Naveen ki relief.
Arshad: "Naveen, GM ki cheppindhi , 'Mohammed Salim 1948 farewell signature, atanu butler atanu Police Action samayam lo aa unit lo trapped emo. Atanu missing report records lo undadu likely, atanu palace staff ledhu Nizam taraf nunchi compensation register lo. 1948 lo aa specific staff casualties documentation absent ga.' GM directly ee unit oka memorial space ga consider cheyyaali ani plan."
Arshad: "Naveen, GM ki naa suggestion , Mohammed Salim ki proper acknowledgment ceremony cheyyaali. Hyderabad lo Mecca Masjid lo oka small Quran-khwani, plus aa unit dheggara oka small plaque. Hotel heritage budget allocation tho. Mee ki ee process lo participate cheyyaalsina."
Naveen attended atanu ceremony April 5 ki, Mecca Masjid lo, hotel staff 12 members assembled. Quran recitation 30 minutes. Mohammed Salim peru read out, "Butler, Falaknuma Palace, Quarter 24, lost during 1948 events." Hotel chaplain (unique position aa hotel ki) directed.
Atanu day evening, palace east wing lo Quarter 24 outer corridor wall ki small bronze plaque installed — "In memory of Mohammed Salim and other staff who served the Falaknuma estate, 1894-1948." Plaque guests ki visible kaadu, staff ki access only.
Naveen post-ceremony Quarter 24 ki second visit chesaaru hotel maintenance team tho April 8 ki. Atanu unit reopen chesaaru — almirah open chesaaru. Inside — clothes vanished. Empty hangers, empty shelves. Wall pencil writing — fading ga, lime over re-applied ga (no team did this, but writing absent now). Cot mat absent. Lamp atanu present ga, kaani wick burned out, glass dusty ga.
Atanu unit "normal" sealed unit la appeared — 77 years inactive consistent ga.
Naveen ki silent acknowledgment. Atanu Arshad ki later reported, atanu Arshad atanu nodded slow ga. "Naveen, ee atanu Salim ki release. Atanu peace ga left. Aa cycle close."
Atanu Quarter 24 inka sealed ga, indefinite ga. Hotel GM aa decision permanent ga maintained. Hotel internal heritage register lo Mohammed Salim peru added 2025 April ki.
Real-world context: Wikipedia — Kakatiya dynasty
Naveen tho naaku ee story 2025 April 20 ki Hyderabad lo oka heritage walk lo met chesaaru — Bhargav cousin atanu friend ki Naveen connected, atanu group lo. Atanu shared atanu story carefully, hotel name explicit ga kaani atanu personal experience genuine ga. Atanu naaku permission ichaaru — fictional dramatization rendering ki, atanu personal name change tho. Naa rendering atanu name Naveen kept (common ga), peru details fictional.
Atanu naaku gurthu — "Sai bhai, ee atanu Salim atanu chained bondage carry chesaadu 77 years. Atanu work life atanu 1944 nunchi 1948 ki, atanu farewell signature atanu mid-September 1948 ki. Atanu missing post-Police Action ga, atanu official records absent. Atanu palace ki loyal ga continued cheyyali ani anipisthondhi atanu, atanu duty atanu identity. Hotel acknowledgment ki release — atanu prarabdha cycle lo official release. Atanu heritage ki acknowledgment, atanu memorial ki acknowledgment, atanu cycle complete."
Naaku Naveen perspective tho strong agree.
Heritage hotels lo aa kind of acknowledgment overdue ga. Restoration luxury ga maatladtaaru, kaani human cost atanu staff casualties Pre-1948 era lo ekkuva ga undedi. Aa acknowledgment slow ga arrival, kaani arrival when conditions ready.
Author's note
Naa Falaknuma Palace ki personal visit ledhu — atanu hotel guest accommodation Rs 50,000+ per night, naa budget kaadhu. Atanu high tea lounge access oka time naa Sanjana ki anniversary gift ga 2024 lo, kaani atanu booking confirm aaledhu (atanu calendar unavailable). Heritage walks Hyderabad lo regular ga, naaku atanu palace ki oka external photo session 2023 lo. Atanu architecture stunning ga, Italian Renaissance plus Indo-Saracenic style mix. Naveen real character kaadhu, atanu composite. Hotel staff 1948 era casualties oka research topic underground ga, Hyderabad State integration aftermath documentation gaps undi specifically domestic staff for native palaces. Mohammed Salim peru fictional — atanu Hyderabad Old City lo common name. Atanu story essence atanu palace heritage ki staff dimension, atanu commercial hotelization tarwatha sometimes overlooked. Mee ki Hyderabad luxury heritage hotels lo ento experience? Comments lo cheppandi.
— 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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