My kid sister!

                               In the month of August ,2011, I came to Bangalore and initially put up at my aunt's place. My aunt has 2 kids; the son- Bittu was in class 8 and the daughter- Niki in class 7 at that time. I started looking for some place nearer to my office where I could shift, but nothing worked out and finally I decided to stay with my aunt till I could find any suitable accommodation. In no time I became great friends with my cousins, inspite of the huge age difference. For me they were my way back to childhood and for them I was the sister who pampered them like anything. This went on for more than a year before I found a place and a roommate to shift with. So in November,2012 I moved to 'my home 'in Bangalore. Niki was especially very sad. But then we move on.
                    19th July is Niki's birthday and I went back to their place this year to celebrate her birthday. It was pouring cats and dogs since evening. I got half drenched on the way. Dinner plans at mainland china got cancelled.
So in the time that my aunt was cooking us dinner, me and Niki sat down to watch The Hulk. But before that something happened. I had shared the room with her when I used to stay there. Even now when I go to there, I am in her room most of the time. As soon as I entered and crashed on the bed,
Niki- Di, I want your suggestion...
Me- About?
Niki- There is a guy in my class , Shubh. He asked me out today.
Me- What!!! Asked you out??means???
Niki- He just said will you go out with me?
Me (Confused)- He wants to take you some place??
Niki- He wants to date me !

I almost fell out of the bed! God! Is this my kid sister I am speaking to!
Then I realised she is a teenager already. Yes! she had turned 13 this year. She was no more a kid. Then I regained my composure and

Me- So what did you tell him??
Niki- I said let me think about it. I did not know what to say. I had a crush on him previously but not now.
Me (Proud of my sister)- Good! Very good!
Niki- What should I tell him
Me- What do you want to do?
Niki- I don't know. I don't like all these things. But I don't want to hurt him. He is a nice guy. He played the guitar for me today.
Me- hmm...tell him lets be friends for now. We will think about all this later.
Niki- hmm.. even I was thinking of the same.

Then we started watching the movie. It was a good one. But the entire evening I kept going back to our conversation and eventually was reminded of my own school days and how guys interested in me used to be scared of coming up to me with the question and it always used to be through some friend.

Next day in the evening, me and Niki went out to pantaloons to buy her birthday gift. She wanted a dress but we dint find anything nice. She picked up 2 tshirts. Sale time at the store tempted me to try on 2 or 3 pairs of jeans. Waiting in the queue, I realized I had got a size bigger than I needed and asked Niki if she would get me the smaller size.

Niki- Yeah I will go get it; anyways the guy at that counter is very cute!

I literally had my jaws open! I dint know how to respond to that. Because no matter how old she grows, I guess she will always be my kid sister whom I think I have to protect from the world.
She went and then I realized my days of flirting or calling guys cute were over. It made me feel old! Huh!! How long I have come in my life to start feeling old already.

As we walked out of the store , I thought no matter how old I age, I will always be Niki's elder sister who will have answers to all her questions and that thought made me smile.