The Recluse

                    Niky ( nicknamed for NIkita ) was an unusual child. She brought immense joy for her father especially when she was born. Mom of course doted her. The thing was she was an ultra possessive child. Would wail if any 'uncle or auint' held her. Only her parents could calm her down. When she was two years or so, the family doctor had a hard time when he visited their house to check her mother who suffering from typhoid. The moment he held her wrist for checking the pulse, Nick started yelling. Deep down she was scared the doc would harm her mother. Her dad had to take her out for a walk to soothe her down. The family friends called her 'Touch me not'.
             Well. she grew up, excelled at school where she was a star, be it studies or any cultural activities. She was the leader leading teams for quiz, music, debate and other competitions. At home she was a recluse. Her mom worried a bit about her. She was unlike her brother who had to blurt out everything that happened at school. Nick wouldn't like if her mom asked questions about what happened at school. She had her own mind which showed up right from the day she started pre-school and this irked her mom at times. Nick never mixed up with the family friends or relatives. There were just two or three cousins whom she was very much attached to, and their parents were her favourite uncles and aunts. Of course she loved her granny to the hilt. That's it. After her parents and brother, she doted on this lot. The strange thing was she didn't have friends all through her school years. Her mom wondered why she was unlike other girls, not giggling or engaging in gossips or interested in clothes or parties. One would find her engrossed in books all the time instead. When her mother wanted help she would clean and dust the house and keep it spic and span. She loved to do the rooms. Dishes / laundry not her cup of tea. Cooking..no, she only loved to do special dishes like 'pulav' or 'carrot halwa' and the likes which took on her mom's nerves because she would lavishly use ghee and oil. She couldn't compromise when she had to cook and the days she cooked, it was a mother / daughter battle field. In short the two women were opposites.
                      Nick just didn't like the womanly talks..like this for example, between her mom and the neighbourhood aunt: ' Rama ji, my dishes are left undone. The maid hasn't come yet. I don't know what to cook for lunch. Its a big question as to what to cook for the three big meals on a daily basis. I have kept milk for boiling and now I thought let me have a chat with you. Have to rush back to add the curd to the milk bowl. Ganesh wants thick curd you know.' 'eegh ! Oogh ! no no no no. I don't want to be doing those talks ! God save me !' thought Nick. She just couldn't fathom her image like her mom or the hundreds of aunts around. She loved the way her school principal managed the school affairs. Then when she went to college she just adored the college principal. She wanted to be that. Her paternal aunt was one of her role models because she was a princi too. Why her sweet granny was a Nursery school headmistress ! Hmm ! the teacherhood sort of ran in the blood.
                  Her class boys didn't interest her though she gorged on Mills and Boons. Oh ! she and her cousins could get engrossed in those novels the whole day. Well like all girls she did get married and found herself cooking like her mom and sometimes mouthing the same dialogues she detested. The difference was she had a job, a niche for herself unlike her mom who was not allowed to work. She kept to her own now also, in the new adopted home. As much as she adored her family she couldn't help being the recluse she was.