SO you know in our culture we automatically start calling hubby’s friends bhai and they in turn call us bhabhi…well, I have no problem with it. It sounds cute and yeah even if he is NOT my brother, I feel by calling him bhai, I lift a few formalities.
So having said that, now of course I would not expect my husband to call his college pal Rukhsana who is now married with children, bhabhi or apa or something, because he knew her before he got married for one, and she is HIS friend. And my husband wouldn’t mind if I called Nizamurahman, Nizamurahman and not bhai, because Nizamurahman is my buddy from college [not really, but I couldn’t think of any names at this point].
The only people I call bhaiya or bhabi are my immediate relatives. Heck even then, its only me. My own younger siblings call me by my first name (they were born/raised in U.S.). It doesn't bother me at all.
All friends, co-workers, neighbors etc....are addressed either by their title or first name regardless of age.
Hubby and I graduated same year from high school so we just call our ex-classmates or friends by their first name only thing is we use the word aap. Rest all of my husband's friends, my BIL (even tho younger) and SIL's hubby I call bhai. Just coz I feel by calling them bhai there is a little distance and my hubby calls all ladies baaji... he can't say bhabi... and I have to tell those ladies he is calling you baji out of respect not because you are older to him.
After coming to Canada I have learnt that women (where I live) get offended if you call them baji or aapi even if they are of my aunty's age. They all are either happy if you take their name or if you call them bhabi...
