The thing about Nupur, at least as far as I can tell, is that it's Indian culture that makes her so, well, young for her age. Which sounds strange because her mother is my father's younger sister, and I wouldn't have thought Nupur and I have been brought up differently, but evidently we have. Nupur's mother wants her to have this traditional, socially conservative nice-Indian-girl upbringing, complete with temple puja and classical dance lessons and socialising with mainly Indian children. And this seems to be preventing her from growing up, because she never plans to do anything for herself - her mother organises everything with Machiavellian efficiency.

Obviously, you're right about the fish-out-of-water thing. She is in a strange place. But I did the same thing - went over to stay with her family - at her age, and I'm sure I didn't seem quite so lost as she does. My upbringing has been very different, it seems - not focused on the fact I'm Indian (I am in fact capable of forgetting this fact for minutes at a time) but simply on academia. My father doesn't like children and never has, so I'm pretty sure he did his best to make me as independent as possible from as early an age as possible. Which I am glad about, really - he's now my friend as well as my father, something Nupur can't really say about either of her parents.

Ick. This is deviating from the point. In short, I don't know which differences I can chalk up to culture, upbringing, geography, all of the above. It's all complicated.

I do think you should try giving Kib a prod or two. She sounds very cool. I'm currently engaged in hiding all my "extra-curricular activities"!