K For Karan, K For Kareena

Chapter 1 – Bhabhi ka Pyaar

Karan (22): Sweet, kind-hearted, respectful. He adores Rekha bhabhi — she's like his elder sister, mother and best friend. He’s a student, soft, not arrogant — just a bit lost, sheltered by love.

Rekha (32): Dignified, elegant, widowed young woman. She is Karan’s bhabhi and she raised Karan like her own. Protective yet playful, she teases him but her love is maternal, deep and unconditional.

Rani (31): Rekha’s best friend, playful, teaser and a troublemaker. Has always been there for Rekha and Karan.

—
Rekha was only 19 when she came to this house, married to Paras. She was a B.Tech. first year student and Paras was his senior from final year. Paras fell in love with the sweet girl when he saw her for the first time.

Paras lost his parents in early age and his TauJi raised him who was a sarpanch from a ruler village in north India not far from Delhi. He raised Paras and his little brother Karan as his own. When Paras completed his B.Tec. he immediately found a job in a MNC. The first thing he did was to explain her feelings for Rekha and convince Tau Ji for the marriage proposal.

Rekha also lost her parents and she was under the wings of her Chachi (a sweet lady). Although Chachi wanted Rekha to complete her degree, she was not able to say no to such a good proposal and she also knew that Rekha also wanted it. Rekha’s ChachaJi also wanted to complete his last responsibility towards Rekha and he pushed for this marriage.

When Rekha came to this house she was merely 19 and Paras was 22 years. After some time Paras also brought her 9 years old brother Karan to the city so that he could get the better atmosphere. Rekha immediately formed a connection with the sweet and shy Karan.

Although, Paras wanted Rekha to pursue the B.Tech. degree but she wanted to give her entire time to Paras and raise Karan. As they had no issue of money due to the good salary which Paras was drawing from his job, and the huge ancestral land in the village, Paras also did not force Rekha and respected her wish.

Paras and Rekha were madly in love and they meant the world to each other having Karan with their side. Then the lightning struck one day, Paras was badly injured in a road accident when there was only 1 year passed of their marriage. Rekha never left his side in the hospital but she was a widow after 10 days of that incident.

She was only 20 and Karan was 10 years old. She was devastated and wanted to end her life also but whenever she looked at Karan she was not able to do so. Tau Ji insisted on her to come with her to the village but she refused and wanted to carry Paras’s last wish to raise Karan into a self dependent, educated person.

Money was not a problem as Paras had a term insurance which gave them a huge sum which Rekha invested intelligently and the 2 BHK apartment was already fully paid off. Every year a handsome amount was also coming from Tau Ji which was their share of agriculture which was more than enough for both Rekha and Karan and they never had to touch their other investment. Thankfully Rekha had enough and didn’t need to work to survive.

In this hard time she got the support from Rani who was her classmate in B.Tech. and living nearby. She was always by Reha’s side and showed unconditional love and care towards Rekha and Karan. She became the light of Rekha and a soul sister to her.

Karan was still a naive ten year old child and very shy was now Rekha’s responsibility. Rekha suddenly became more than a Bhabhi to Karan. She became her mother and mentor. She provided her entire love and life to Karan.

When Karan was afraid to sleep alone Rekha started sleeping with him in his room. Telling her stories every night whenever he was unable to sleep. She used to prepare him with her own hand every morning for school then drop him to school and pick him up at noon.

The entire day she used to spend with Karan, playing, teaching, helping with his homework, feeding and in the night helping him sleep like a mother would do.

Rani used to visit her every week. Infact Rani used to stay over weekends with Rekha and Karan also. She became a sister to Rekha and Karan, Karan used to call her Rani Di and Rani also used to love him a lot.

Tau Jo also used to visit them frequently to check if they needed anything and he was happy that Rekha was handling everything well.

Life moved on and now Karan was a 22 year old man in his last year of B.Tech. in a reputed college. Rani was also working in an MNC in a senior position but she was still a regular on the weekdays and it seems that neither Rekha nor Karan would live without her. The weekends were the most fun filled days when Rani was there.

Although Karan was 22, he was only an inch longer than Rekha who was 5’ 5 ". He was still very gentle and shy. For some reason his shyness never left him. The only time he was not shy was in front of his Bhabhi Rekha and Rani.

Rekha never let him do any house chores and always wanted him to focus on his studies and never worry about anything else. Karan used to listen to Rekha every time and Rekha’s words were like the sacred vows for him. He had such deep respect and love for Rekha.
He knew what Rekha had sacrificed for him , her prime years and he used to respect Rekha for that. Now as he was young he was also sometimes playful with Rekha as a Devar. They used to tease each other and Rekha was still comfortable sleeping with Karan, although they now used to sleep in another room as Karan had to study till late. For her he was still that child in mind and she never felt anything odd with that.

Chapter 2- Bhabhi’s playful bet

It was Friday afternoon. Rain patters outside. Rekha folds clothes, wearing a soft cotton saree. Karan lies on the floor, half-reading a magazine, half-dozing.

Karan:
(yawning)
“Bhabhi… ek cup chai milegi? Baarish ho rahi hai na.”

Rekha: (smiling fondly)
“Tera kuch nahi ho sakta, Karan. Ek toh khud uthenge nahi, upar se order bhi chal raha hai.”

Karan (puppy eyes):
“Please bhabhi… tumhare haathon wali chai sabse special hai.”

Rekha: (laughs softly, brushing his hair with her fingers)
“Tu sach mein chhota bachcha hi reh gaya hai.”

They sit together. Rekha brings chai. He rests his head in her lap.

Karan (softly):
“Tum bas meri bhabhi nahi meri maa bhi ho bhabhi… dost bhi. Tumhare bina main kuch bhi nahi hoon.”

Rekha (emotion in her eyes):
“Tu mera beta hai, Karan. Aur sach kahun toh… jab tere bhaiya chale gaye, toh mujhe jeene ki wajah sirf tune di hai. Agar tu nahi hota to shayad main jee nahi pati unke bina.”

Karan (looking up):
“Aur main bhi to tabhi samsamhal paya jab aapne mujhe gale lagaya tha. Aapke bina to main anath tha bhabhi.”

For a moment there was a heavy silence. Nobody spoke and the sound of rain filled the air. Rekha kept stroking his hair. Karan was still in her lap facing towards her stomach and her nose touching her navel. He was smelling the scent of Rekha which always used to fill a calmness and security in his mind. He was addicted to that scent.

Later That Evening

Rani arrived, holding an umbrella. She’s wearing a simple peach salwar, face glowing with natural beauty and as usual always playful and cheery.

Rani (grinning):
“Rekha darling… baarish mein bhi teri chai ki khushboo kheench laayi mujhe. Ab jara jaldi se kadak chai bana kar le aa meri jaan.”

Karan (smiling warmly):
“Rani di, aap toh sach mein magic ho. Har baar chamak ke aati ho.”

Rani (teasing):
“Bas ab tere jaise koi ladka mil jaye jo ghar bhi samhal sake to main bhi shaadi ke liye tayar ho jaaun.”

They all laugh. The bond was close-knit. No mockery, just love.

The Turning Point: A Playful Suggestion

As the night deepens and the power goes out briefly, Rekha lights a candle. Its glow flickers across Karan’s face.

Rekha (suddenly): “Tu hamesha kehta hai ghar ka kaam aasan hai. Kabhi socha hai ek din mere jaisa banke sab kuch karna pad jaaye?”

Karan (smiling innocently): “Main kar loonga bhabhi. Tum keh do, main kuch bhi kar loonga.”

Rekha (Moking): Are jaa jaa bada aaya kaam karne wala. Pata hai kitna bada nikhattu hai tu.

Karan (still smiling): “Bhabhi guess mein bhi kitni pyari lagti ho tum. Par sach mein tum bol kar to dekho.”

Rekha : “Accha ye baat hai bacchu, theek hai fir. 2 din ke liye ghar tere hawale. Main aur Rani tere mehman hain ghar ka sara kaam tu karega. Bol.”

Karan : “Main tayar hoon. Waise bhi meri puari bhabhi maa 2 din ka rest deserve karti hai”

Rekha (Playfully): “ Na na aise nahi beta. Jaise main karti hoon. Ghar ki bahu ke jaise.”

Karan (confusing): “Matlab”
Rekha (Teasing): “Matlab kal se tu 2 din ke liye is ghar ki bahu banega. Mere jaise kapde pehanne honge tab kaam karna hoga.”

Karan was taken aback and Rani started laughing like a man woman.

Rani (soft giggle): “Waise tujhmein nazakat toh bachpan se hai Karan. Bura thodi lagega tujhe saree aur suit mein”

Karan (shy smile):“Aap dono mazaak kar rahi ho”

Rekha (gently, but seriously): “Nahi. Kya tu karega? 2 din… ghar ki bahu baega?”

There’s a pause. Candlelight flickers on Karan’s confused but trusting face.

Karan (softly): “Bhabhi apko pata hai main aapki kisi baat ko mana nahi kar sakta… toh main sab kuch Aap chahte ho ki main 2 din ke liye gharki bahu banoon?.”

Rekha (gently but playfully) : “Haan aur mujhe bhi to ek nanad mil jayegi 2 din ke liye, kyon Rani:”

Rani (still laughing) : “ Aur kya aur hamara Karana bhi Kareena banke kitna accha lagega”

Rekha (holding his hand): “Toh kal se 2 din ke liye — tu banega meri bahu?”

Karan (dramatically bowing his head): “ Agar bhabhi maa ka yahi adesh hai to”

Then all 3 started laughing loudly. Mood was light and playful.

This isn’t punishment. This is trust. Play. A new layer of their bond.

Karan (looking into Rekha’s eyes):
“Lekin bhabhi… mujhe toh kuch nahi aata. Saree pehnna… chalna… bolna…”

Rani (gently):
“Don’t worry Kareena ji… hum sikhayenge. Rekha bhabhi aur main, milke. Aur waise bhi… bahu banna sirf kapdon ka kaam nahi, dil se banta hai koi.”

Karan blushes. Rekha smiles proudly. She sees her little Karan slowly stepping into something more fluid, more expressive, more whole.

Chapter 3- Morning Excitement

It was early morning. The rain had stopped just an hour ago, and the scent of wet earth lingered in the air. The house felt quiet, except for the soft clinking of utensils in the kitchen and the distant whistle of the pressure cooker.

Rekha, dressed in a soft white cotton saree, moved through the house like morning light — calm, graceful, and familiar. She had already cleaned the house, and now she held a cup of hot ginger chai in her hand as she made her way to Karan’s room.

The door was half open. Inside, Karan lay curled up under his blanket, buried deep in sleep.She smiled and knocked gently on the doorframe.

Rekha: "Utho Kareena ji… bahu log der tak nahi soya karti."

From under the blanket, Karan’s muffled voice groaned.

Karan: "Bhabhi… abhi toh andhera hai… baarish mein sone ka alag hi maza hota hai."

Rekha placed the chai on the side table beside him and sat on the edge of the bed.

Rekha: "Maaza kal tak ka tha. Aaj se tu meri bahu hai — ghar ki izzat. Chai thandi mat hone dena."

Karan peeked out from under the blanket, his hair messy, his eyes still full of sleep.

Karan: "Bhabhi… seriously? Aaj se?"

She raised an eyebrow and nodded, half-smiling.

Rekha: "Yaad hai kal kya kaha tha? 'Agar bhabhi maa ka yahi adesh hai to…' — toh bas. Aaj wahi hone wala hai."

Karan sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes. But something on the bed caught his attention — a neatly folded red floral printed salwar suit, paired with a matching dupatta. On top of it, a small white envelope.

Curious, he picked it up and opened the note inside. Rekha’s handwriting greeted him:
"Aaj se nayi zindagi ki shuruaat. Meri Kareena ko dher sara pyar aur asheerwad – Tumhari Rekha Bhabhi."

His fingers trembled slightly as he held the saree in his lap.

Karan (whispering): "Yeh… mere liye hai?"

Just then, a familiar voice echoed from the living room.

Rani: "Rekha, meri dulhan tayyar hai ya bhag gayi?"

She entered, her dupatta fluttering, a large beauty kit in one hand and a huge teasing grin on her face.

Karan (pulling the blanket over his head): "Di! Aap bhi bhabhi ke gang mein? Yeh sab kya ho raha hai?!"

Rekha stood beside her, arms crossed, smirking.

Rekha: "Ye Rani ko kal se hi tayar baithi hai. Aaj tumhara makeover day hai."

Rani: "Aur main toh sapne mein bhi Kareena ko sajate hue dekh rahi thi. Aaj toh reality show hoga!"

Karan groaned under the blanket.

Karan: "Makeover?! Salwar suit?! Yeh sab mazaak tha bhabhi…"

Rekha: "Mazaak tab tak tha jab tak tune haan nahi bola tha. Ab toh yeh kasam hai."

Rani (laughing): "Arey Kareena, chhupna mana hai! Bahu ko sajna bhi aana chahiye!"

Karan peeked out again, face red but smiling shyly. His heart pounded strangely — half out of nervousness, half out of something he couldn’t name.

Karan: "Bhabhi… di… mujhe dar lag raha hai"

Rani walked over and sat beside him.

Rani (softly): "Darne ki zarurat nahi, Karan. Hum dono hai na. Tu bas bharosa rakh."

Rekha placed a warm hand on his cheek.

Rekha: "Tu mera Karan hai. Aur ab meri Kareena bhi. Bas apne aap pe vishwas rakh aur hume bhi thoda maza aayega. Tu aisa samjh le ki tu kisi play mein ladki ka role kar raha hai."

He looked at both of them, then back at the salwar suit in his lap. Slowly, gently, he picked it up in his hands — delicate, silk-like, and fragrant with Rekha’s detergent. It felt strange, yet comforting.

Rekha (teasing): "Chalo, ab shuruaat karein."

Karan (suspicious): "Shuruaat matlab?"

Rani opened the beauty box with a grin.

Rani: "Sabse pehle — waxing."

Karan’s eyes widened in horror.

Karan: "Kya? Bhabhi waxing ki to baat nahi hui thi!"

Rekha (laughing): "Nahi bahu ji, mazaak ab khatam. Dard ki shuruaat hone wali hai. Bahu banna asan hai kya?"

The three of them burst into laughter, the room echoing with warmth, mischief, and something unspoken — a shift, a surrender, a soft rebirth that none of them fully understood yet.

Chapter 4 – Waxing & Cleaning
The bedroom had turned into a beauty parlour.
Karan sat on a low wooden stool, looking like a boy caught in the middle of a prank gone too far. His red salwar suit lay folded neatly on the bed, waiting. But for now, it was time to prepare the canvas.
Rekha rolled up her sleeves.
Rani laid out the waxing strips, heating a small bowl of honey-brown wax on an induction stove beside the bed.
Karan (nervously): "Bhabhi… sach mein karna padega kya?"
Rekha (mock serious): "Nahi. Hum toh sirf dikhawa kar rahe hain. Tumhare baal khud bhaag jaayenge?"
Rani (giggling): "Arey Kareena, bahu banna hai na? Toh chehre se nahi, pairon se shuruaat hoti hai."
Karan tried to laugh along, but his voice cracked. He rolled up the sleeves of his kurta hesitantly as Rekha dipped the spatula into the hot wax.
Karan (whimpering): "Zyada garam toh nahi hai na?"
Rekha: "Thoda hi toh… bas itna ke tumhe yaad rahe ki tumne kab bahu banna chuna tha."
She applied the first patch of wax to his forearm. Warmth spread instantly over his skin. Before he could ask anything else, she slapped a white strip over it, pressed it down firmly…
RIPPP!
Karan: "Aaaaaiiiyyoooo maa!"
Rani doubled over with laughter.
Rani: "Kya awaaz nikaali re Kareena! Bilkul dulhan jaise cheekh rahi hai!"
Karan (wincing): "Yeh zulm hai… bhabhi, Rani di… aap logon ko mazaak lag raha hai… main mar gaya!"
Rekha (smiling): "Tumhare jaisa nikkamma ladka agar ghar ke kaam nahi karega, toh kam se kam sundar toh lage."
Slowly, inch by inch, they worked on his arms — then his legs. With every strip, Karan flinched, squealed, cursed under his breath, and clung to the edge of the stool like a drowning man. But something else was also happening.
As the hair came off, his skin changed — smooth, fair, glowing. Rani’s eyes lingered on his calves as she wiped the skin clean with warm towels.
Rani (softly): "Waise… skin toh badi soft hai teri. Bahu material hai pura."
Karan flushed red.
Karan: "Main ladka hoon di… yeh sab ajeeb lag raha hai."
Rekha knelt beside him and cupped his chin gently.
Rekha: "Tum jo ho, woh toh tum ho hi. Par jo chhupa hai… usse kab tak chhupaaoge, Karan?"
There was a long pause.
He looked at his arms — hairless, shining under the tube light. He slowly moved his hand over his own skin, fingers brushing the softness like it belonged to someone else… yet strangely familiar.
Karan (quietly): "Ajeeb lag raha hai… par galat nahi lag raha."
Rekha and Rani exchanged a soft glance.
Rani: "Galat aur naye mein farq hota hai, Kareena."
Rekha smiled and stood up.
Rekha:
"Chalo, ab face ki baari hai. Multani mitti aur cucumber pads ready hai. Aur haan… thoda eyebrow bhi thik karenge."
Karan (shocked): "Kya?! Eyebrow bhi?!"
Rani (winking): "Thoda shape denge bas. Teri nazar utarne ke liye."
He sat back, letting them apply a cooling face pack. His eyes closed, the sound of rain starting up again in the background. Fingers worked gently over his skin. Rani massaged his temples. Rekha held a cotton pad over his eyes.
For the first time in hours, Karan felt… calm.
Not like a joke. Not like a dare. Just… cared for.

Chapter 5 – The Piercing Scene

The waxing was done. Karan’s arms and legs now glowed with an unfamiliar smoothness. He sat on the edge of the bed, a towel draped across his lap, slowly rubbing his forearm, lost in thought.
Rekha and Rani stood by the mirror, discussing something in hushed voices. Then Rekha turned, her eyes soft but determined.

Rekha: "Kareena… ek aur cheez baaki hai."
Karan looked up. Her voice had changed — gentler, yet deeper.

Karan: "Kya?"

Rekha (gently): "Dekh please mana mat karna.."

Karan: "Offo! Batao to pehle."

Rani opened her palm. Two delicate golden jhumke sat there, glinting in the light. Their gentle curve, the small hanging pearls — beautiful and unmistakably feminine.

Karan stared at them.

Karan (quietly): "Yeh toh… pehnne ke liye… kaan chhidwana padega na?"

Rekha came and sat beside him. Her hand rested on his bare shoulder.

Rekha: "Haan. Bas bahut thoda sa pain hoga. Par uske baad ye jhumke bahut sundar lagenge Kareena ke upar.."

Karan (hesitant): "Lekin bhabhi… yeh toh permanent hota hai. Baad mein… log kya kahenge?"

Rani (kneeling beside him): "Kya kahenge log, ki ladka fashionable hai. Aajkal kitne ladke kaam chidhwate hain. Tauji ke bhi to chidhe hue hain."

Rekha cupped his face, making him look at her.

Rekha: "Tune toh kaha tha — tujhe mujh par bharosa hai. Toh aaj mujhe apna ek nishaan dene do. Jisme main tumhe har baar dekhun… aur kahun: yeh mera Karan hai. Yeh meri Kareena hai."

His eyes moistened. He looked down at the jhumke again. Gold. Soft. Pure.
He nodded.

Karan (softly): "Chalo… chhidwa lo."

✨ The Goldsmith by the Temple

An hour later, they sat near a small goldsmith shop, tucked beside the old Shiv mandir. The bells rang in the background. Marigold petals lay scattered on the ground from an earlier pooja.

The old goldsmith looked up from his bench and adjusted his glasses.

Sunar: "Arey Rekha bitiya! Itni saal baad… aur yeh naya mehmaan?"

Rekha (smiling): "Devar hai mera, Karan. Gaon mein pooja hai. Humare gaon mein ladkon ka kaam chidhwane ka riwaz hai to socha ye bhi baaki logon ki tarah pehan lega. "

The old man smiled warmly at Karan, unaware or perhaps silently accepting of what he saw.

Sunar: "Toh dono side mein chhidhwana hai?"

Rani: "Haan"

Karan sat on the wooden stool. The cold metal of the clamp touched his earlobe. He winced.

Karan (nervously): "Bhabhi… dard hoga?"

Rekha took his hand in hers, squeezed gently.

Rekha: "Bas ek chhoti si chubhan. Uske baad… tu bas Kareena ho jayegi. (Whispering in the ear so that the goldsmith doesn't hear)."

The goldsmith marked two tiny dots. He took out the needle.

Sunar: "Ready ho?"

Karan looked once at Rekha, once at Rani. Both nodded silently, holding him steady.

Karan (eyes closed): "Kar do."

SNAP!

The first ear was done. A sharp sting, a jolt — his hand gripped Rekha’s tighter.

SNAP!

The second. Tears pricked his eyes, not just from the pain.

Rani quickly wiped his cheeks.

Rani (smiling): "Bas ho gaya, Devar ji. Ab dekho toh zara."

She held up a small mirror.

Karan looked.

There they were — 2 golden balis.

Glistening against his clean skin. His hair fell slightly over his ears, framing them softly.

He blinked.

He wasn’t sure if it was joy, fear, surrender… or something else. But he looked at Rekha with trembling lips.

Karan: "Main… alag lag raha hoon bhabhi."

Rekha leaned in and whispered.

Rekha: "Alag nahi… ab toh asli lag raha hai."

🔔 That Evening

Back at home, Kareena stood in front of the mirror in just a towel, gently touching her ears. The pain was reduced and golden balis were now replaced with jhumkas.

Each time the jhumkas moved, they made a tiny ching-ching sound. Like a whisper.

Like a song.

He turned… and smiled.

Not Karan’s smile.

Kareena’s.