Surge 13x
Price Surge 13x
Setting: Uber booking screen (Hyderabad / Telangana).
In English: Price Surge 13x. A Lighted Tales original Telugu horror story, written in Romanized Telugu (Tenglish) with Telangana dialect.
Price Surge 13x
Cab driver thala thirigi back seat ki direct chusaaru, aatani eyes Pranati Devi ki — ne ne ne, oka different woman, oka younger one, age 24 daggara, aatani face Charitra Naidu ki aame familiar 2024 March accident victim photo tho exact match. Aame seat ki belt thaaki ne ne ne, aame eyes Charitra ki direct, navvu lekkadu kaani okka silent recognition. Aatani car aatani Banjara Hills aame flat lobby nundi shift ainade, kaani aame engine sound ne ne ne, aame cab inside lights ne ne ne, aame outside fog dense ga.
Charitra: "Madam, ne nuvvu... ne ne ne ne ne ne, Pranati akka March 2024 passenger aame, kadha?"
Aame young woman silent ga, aame head okka chinna nod tho.
[YOUNG WOMAN] "Charitra-amma, naa Aishwarya. Naa Pranati akka aame 2024 March 17 raathri Madhapur nundi Kondapur ride lo. Naa head injury fatal, naa 2 days lo aame poyaaru. Naa Pranati akka tho aame samadhi ne ne ne ne ne ne ne, naa heart lo aame ki kuda peace path velli ainde. Naa ne ki rendu thanks, ne nuvvu Pranati akka ki helmet rule force chesinaaru November 14 raathri ki, ne ki Vizianagaram visit chesinaaru. Naadhi heart pakkana naa amma ki naadhi pelli wedding 5-year remembrance December 11 ki upcoming, ne ki aatani okkati more visit ki request."
Charitra Naidu, age 27, naa Wipro design team peer (Post 173 lo character, Pranati Devi tho Rapido phantom incident October 31). Aame Saturday December 6 raathri 11:30 PM ki aame Banjara Hills apartment building lobby ki, aame Hyderabad Aishwarya Krishna (Post 170 lo character, naa office friend Wipro Madhapur) tho late dinner okay ga, aame okay tho aame Wipro Diwali team event aatani Saturday ki postponed ainde. Aame aame mother-in-law tho relative tho close, aame Hyderabad ki recently shifted, naa office close-circle.
Aame December 6 saturday raathri 11:30 PM ki Madhapur Inorbit Mall South Indian restaurant nundi, aame Aishwarya tho late dinner. Aame Banjara Hills aame flat ki return ki Uber book chesindhi 11:45 ki. Aame app ki standard fare quote — okka chinna freeze.
Surge multiplier: 13.0x Estimated fare: ₹3,210 (₹247 base 13)*
Aame eyes lo lock. Aame Hyderabad lo aame past 4 years lo Uber surge 1.5x ki maximum 3x ki noticed ainde — concerts, peak monsoon, festival nights ki maatrame. 13x — aatani aame seen ainade zero saarlu. Aatani standard Hyderabad surge cap 4x ki maatrame Uber policy prakaaram (aame Wipro design team aame Uber UX research project lo aatani spec read ainade). 13x — aame algorithm output ki ne ne ne ne ne ne ne path lekkadu.
Aame app refresh, multiple times. Surge — 13.0x stable. Aame standard cab category Sedan, premium ne ne ne. Aatani fare quote consistent.
Aame okka second silent. Aame Aishwarya ki "naa Uber surge 13x, naa book cheyali a kaadhu?" ane.
Aishwarya: "Charitra, ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne. Adhi okay ga ne ne ne ne ne ne ne. Naa Ola try cheyi, naa Rapido try cheyi, naa pickup options check cheyi."
Aame Ola open chesi check, fare quote "₹312 standard" — surge 1.0x normal. Aame Rapido check, "₹147 bike, ETA 6 mins" — normal. Naa Uber 13x — outlier maatrame.
Aame Uber app aatani screen lo, aatani daggara, okka small text bottom ki notice cheste —
"No drivers available within 50 km of your location."
Aame heart lo lock. Surge 13.0x AND zero drivers within 50 km — aatani contradictory states simultaneous ga ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne. Surge multiplier high demand ki algorithm response, kaani drivers zero ki — aatani aame meaningless multiplier (no drivers to serve). Aatani logic break.
Aame brain ki aatani off ainade — Uber backend bug standard ga, naa Ola tho velli ane practical decision. Kaani aame thumb okkati Uber "Confirm Ride" button ki tap. Aame heart lo "naa just curious, what happens if I book" ane impulse ainade. Aame button ki tap.
"Searching for driver..."
Aame screen ki loading spinner. 3 seconds.
"Driver found! Anurag B. is on the way. ETA: 0 mins."
Aame eyes lock.
ETA — zero minutes. Aatani driver — Anurag B. — Sripada deceased driver Post 172 lo, Anvitha cab Post 176 lo phantom plate, aatani name. Naa heart skip okka beat.
→ Idey theme lo inka oka katha: Customer Support Call
Cab arrived notification immediate ga. Aame screen lobby ki velli, glass doors nundi outside chuste — Hyundai Aura, plate TS09 EH 8742, lobby ki direct.
Aame phone tho Aishwarya ki —
Charitra: "Aishwarya, naa cab vacchindi okay ga ne ne ne ne ne, kaani driver name Anurag B., naa heart lo aame ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne. Naa Sai-anna stories lo naa knew aame driver, aame 2024 February deceased. Naa cab nundi back."
Aishwarya: "Charitra, ne nuvvu safe place ki velli, naa Ola standard cab book cheyali ne ki, naa Madhapur nundi pickup chestha. Naa parallel naa Sai-anna ki text panpinanu."
Aame okay ga ne ne ne. Aame back step ki, kaani aame foot ki freeze ainde.
Cab back seat door okkati slow ga theresinde. Outside force lekkadu — aatani door auto-opened. Aame eyes lo lock.
Aame breath aagipoyindi okka second daka. Aame phone tho Aishwarya ki "Aishwarya, cab door theresinde itself, naa scared, naa naa stay here, naa security guard call cheyali" ane type chestune.
Aame phone okka chinna jolt ki, screen okkati "trip starting" ane prompt ki maaripoyindi. Aame thumb ki ne ne ne ne ne ne tap chesinaaru. Aame Uber app trip activated.
Aame eyes lo aatani back seat ki — aatani inside lighting full ga visible. Aame seat ki seated okka woman, age 24 daggara, aame face — Charitra heart lo full recognition. Aame Pranati Devi 2024 March passenger photo, aatani Vizianagaram inta visit lo aatani parents share chesina photo, aatani exact face.
Aame name Charitra heart lo ne ne ne ne ne ne ne — Vizianagaram visit lo aatani parents "naa daughter Aishwarya" ane mention chesaaru, kaani Charitra aatani specific name ki memory thin ga. Aame okka second silent freeze.
Aame young woman aame side ki silent ga slide chesinde, aame seat lo space create chesinde Charitra ki. Aame eyes Charitra ki direct, navvu lekkalo, kaani okka silent invitation.
Charitra okka second silent. Aame brain ki aatani option weight cheste — (1) cab refuse, security guard call, public-area-stay (2) cab board, aatani young woman intent investigate.
Aame heart lo intuition tho — aatani young woman threat ga ne ne ne ne ne ne ne anipinchaledhu. Aame face peaceful ga, aame eyes warm ga.
Aame okay ga step ki, aame seat ki seated, door slow ga close.
Top dialogue lo above conversation ainde.
Charitra: "Aishwarya, ne mother ki, Pranati akka? Aame ne pelli ki Madhapur ki ride? Aame naa kosam pelli wedding ainade? Naa heart lo aame full recognition lekkadu, naa apology, naa Vizianagaram visit lo ne specific name ki naa memory weak ga."
Aishwarya: "Charitra-amma, naa amma Pranati. Naa naadhi pelli plan 2024 lo, March 17 ki naadhi engagement, March 24 ki naadhi pelli planned. Naa Madhapur office nundi naadhi hostel ki Pranati akka ride 2024 ki regular, naa nakku close. Aatani Sunday raathri March 17 ki, naadhi engagement event Kondapur lo, naa fast ki velli aame pickup request chesinanu Madhapur office nundi. Aame helmet broken ki, aame 'Aishwarya akka, ne Ola call cheyali' ane suggested. Naa pressed 'Pranati akka, naa late ga, naa engagement 30 minutes lo, ne tho safe ga slow drive'. Aame agreed. Naa head injury fatal."
Aatani voice okay ga, kaani okka chinna sad.
Aishwarya: "Naadhi pelli, March 24 ki canceled. Naa fiance, Anurag, naa heart lo aatani okay ga ne ne ne, kaani naadhi gone tarwata aatani family Anurag ki 'next pelli ki ne nuvvu free' ane release chesaaru. Anurag aatani heart lo naa kosam grief 6 months, aatani Hyderabad lo software job nundi resign chesi, Uber driving ki shift ainade emotional ga, 'naadhi heart-grief tho work cheyali, manual work ki path' ane intent. Aame February 2024 cab accident, Begumpet flyover. Anurag, Charitra-amma, aame 2024 February deceased driver Anurag Bose, naadhi fiance."
Charitra eyes okka silence.
Aishwarya: "Naadhi pelli wedding 5-year remembrance December 11 ki upcoming, 2030 ki, kaani naa ki, naa Anurag ki, aatani okay ga ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne. Naa Anurag ki non-harm care principle aatani driving lo deep ga ne ne ne, aame fatigue tho aame care break ainde. Naa heart lo aatani okay ga ne ne ne, kaani aatani father Post 172 lo Sripada-amma ki cheppindhi 'Anurag ki guilt tho rest cheyaledhu inka'. Naa Anurag tho aatani peace deliver cheyali ane intent."
Charitra silent ga listen.
→ Pakkana ee story kuda chadavandi: Driver Vachadu Kaani Evaru Ravaledu
Aishwarya: "Charitra-amma, ne ki request, naadhi 5-year remembrance December 11 ki, ne nuvvu Begumpet vaipu Anurag family ki velli, aame Vizianagaram naa parents tho video call connect, anandam tho rendu families connect tho oka memorial. Naadhi pelli aatani celebrate aaledhu, kaani aatani memorial okkati combined ga okay ga. Naa peace path. Anurag peace path."
Charitra okay ga ne ne ne ne ne ne ne. Aame eyes lo neeru.
Cab — silent ga moved actuated. Driver seat — Anurag B., aame face mirror lo Charitra ki visible — aame okay ga, aame face peaceful ga, aame okka silent nod Charitra ki direct.
Cab Banjara Hills aame flat building ki cherindi okka 8 minutes lo. Charitra step pettinde, aame back door close okay ga, aame young woman Aishwarya ki final eye contact, aame okka silent navvu. Cab slow ga drove off.
Charitra phone Uber app screen check, trip — "completed, fare ₹0 (waived due to driver-side cancellation)". Aatani 13x surge ne ne ne ne ne charged. Driver Anurag B. — entry visible, kaani aame backend (naa colleague check) lo aame entry timestamp "December 6, 2024 23:48" ane — okka year-offset, exact.
Aame flat ki velli, naa Sai-anna ki Sunday morning DM —
Charitra: Sai anna, naa cab story Saturday raathri ki long ga ne ne ne. Naa peace ga, aame ki rendu more memorial visits commit. Naa Aishwarya tho — naa pelli wedding remembrance December 11 ki, Begumpet aame Anurag-anna family ki connect tho. Naa heart full ga light ga.
Charitra December 11 ki Anurag Bose family Begumpet ki velli, aame Sripada (Post 172 lo character) ki coordinate, aame parents tho Vizianagaram lo Pranati Devi parents tho video call connect. Rendu families video call lo silent connection — Anurag father okka silence, Pranati father okka silence, tarwata —
[ANURAG'S FATHER] "Pranati pinni, naadhi son Anurag ne mee daughter Aishwarya tho 5-year-back engagement, aame March 24 wedding planned. Naa son ne mee daughter ki non-harm care tho engaged ainade. Aame ki naa son aame fate guilt aame drove ki path. Manaki ipoptu, aatani memory ki rendu families ki combined memorial. Naadhi forgiveness."
[PRANATI'S FATHER] "Anurag-bava, naa daughter Pranati ne mee son Anurag ki non-harm care broke ainde aame helmet rule lo. Aame ki Aishwarya akka ki helmet rule force cheyali ane heart-strength lekkapote, aame ki life cost. Naa daughter aame guilt tho aame final ride chose. Aame ki manaki forgiveness. Aatani memorial combined ga, naadhi peace."
Real-world context: Wikipedia — Creepypasta tradition
Rendu families silent moment, oka deepam each side, oka silent prayer. Charitra video call lo participate, aame heart lo aatani 3 souls ki — Pranati, Aishwarya, Anurag — combined peace ki.
Charitra Hyderabad ki return Sunday raathri. Aame Uber app open chesi Saturday December 6 trip history check, aame entry — gone, traceless. Aame 13x surge search lo zero matches. Aame trip Sai-anna communication thread lo screenshots backup ga, aame phone evidence ki.
Aame ride-share apps okay ga ne ne, kaani aame heart lo non-harm care principle ki — driver care, passenger care, helmet rule, slow drive, full attention — aame practice strict ga. Aame Uber driver rating prathi ride ki careful ga "non-harm care: respected" ane internal commentary tho.
Author's note
Naa Karimnagar lo naa cousin Madhavi 2022 lo bike accident lo ainde — aame back seat ki helmet missing tho, driver fatigue tho rough drive. Aame minor injuries, kaani aame heart lo "helmet rule strict, slow drive insist cheyali" ane practice install ainde. Naa life lo naa Sanjana ki kuda aame story share, naa cab vs bike preferences lo cab default ki shift ainade. Naa rare ga bike ride, naa always own helmet carry chestha pillion ki.
Uber surge 13x — backend cap 4x ki maatrame Hyderabad zone lo, 2024 ki Uber India policy. Aatani 13x surge zero-probability theoretical, pricing engine lo path lekkadu. Plus "no drivers within 50 km" ane simultaneous state — algorithm logic break, contradictory output. 2024-2025 ride-share community Reddit lo similar "impossible surge" reports Bengaluru forums lo dorukutu undi, kaani consistent reproduce kavadhamledu, aatani most cases lo "display layer integer overflow" explanation tho aatani aatani 30 minutes lo resolved.
Non-harm — careful drive, passenger ki slow ga deliver, helmet rule strict, fatigue tho drive lekkadu — adhi naa Karimnagar bus driver community lo deep ga embedded ga. Naa nanna-tho friend Yadagiri-anna 30 years ki RTC driver, aame ki "Sai, naa prathi ride ki aame bus lo naa life ki responsible — slow drive, non-harm care" ane teach chesindhi. Atanu okka principle naa heart lo permanent.
Mee daggara Uber/Ola lo unusual surge eppudaina chusava? 5x, 8x, beyond? Aatani simultaneous "no drivers" state tho? 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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