K For Karan, K For Kareena

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.