A Day in the Life of a Twin

Na, Sadia and me in Borders' Starbucks, The Gardens, in late January this year

I will try to keep this one short and spare readers of a blow-by-blow account of my life. :) That's what happened when you're writing on the computer, instead of the paper, and in a rush to finish.


As wont, like an annual tradition, I would write a post with respect to my birthday and this year is no different. (However, this year I am a day late)

People always ask me about the special, almost magical properties of being part of a twin. "Are you guys telepathic?" is one of the frequently asked questions.

As much as I would like to believe that is the eerie case, I would have to say No. At least some of the time. On the other hand, there have been instances in which similar incidences happen to us. Once, when we were in Standard Five (that would be 11 years old to the uninitiated), the tiny eraser on the back of a mechanical pencil stuck inside one of my twin's nostrils. Luckily, my mother managed to fish the thing out of her crevice. Less than a week later, it was my turn to get the eraser into my nostril by accident and I had to be rushed to the clinic as the eraser had stubbornly lodged inside the hole!

Some skeptics might attribute this incident as our ploy to get our mom's attention, but believe me, shoving a teeny ball of eraser into one's nostril was not worth the risk. We were just a curious (and naughty) lot, my twin and I. We even let the kid from our nextdoor neighbour cut our hair once because we were playing barber. My mother went ballistic with the badly-shorn haircut and was more angry at the neighbour for letting her daughter clip our curly locks.

Numerous other cases point to this weird, double-trouble phenomenon such as our two forehead injuries and subsequent scars, the loss of handbags and other material goods, car accidents and so forth. Coincidence? I doubly hope so.

As for the persistently (if not downright grating) obvious question as to how it feels to be a twin, honestly speaking, I do not know how to answer that one. Having lived XX years of my life as a twin, I lack the experience that goes with the territory of being a 'single unit'. People tend to compare us on every imaginable level - I guess it is part of human nature to respond accordingly when they find something remotely identical. I liken it to a game of 'Spot the difference' between two deceivingly similar pictures.

Initially, I confess that I have resented the comparisons being made either in an outward fashion or inwardly in their head. Therein lies the fervent wish to become a so-called 'individual'. However, forgetting that every aspect of our lives is up for comparison - siblings, friends, colleagues, material possessions, etc - I changed my mind.

I decided, let them compare. I am my own person. Love me or hate me, purely based on this alone. You don't owe me anything just because you know my twin sister. And vice-versa. Yet, common decency dictates that some civility shall prevail, whether or not you like the other half.

I once gave a rare, unexpected answer to the inevitable question, "It must be nice to have a twin, right?" I intoned "Yes, especially if you don't like the person, you can pretend to be the other twin." That shut his trap for good. You wouldn't expect that kind of answer from my twin though - I'd say she's more diplomatic dealing with people in general. At least, those outside the family. Haha.

As for me, I had to brush up on my people skills. Fortunately, aging and marriage have taught me a thing or two about tact and niceties.

Admittedly, being competitive by nature (there I have said it!) has relegated making comparison with my twin sister a second nature. It can be done outrightly or subconsciously, but the sad truth is it would not take me anywhere. This line of thinking will only weigh me down.

I am glad that I have since taken the high road and cast the insecurities away. Cliche as it may sound, I have realised that I must be happy with who I am and stop benchmarking myself to others. Sure, I might relapse some time, but as long as I don't dwell in the abyss, I will be mighty fine.

Back to the eerie front, both my twin and I were sick on our birthday yesterday - alright, you can blame it on the cold season - and unbeknownst to us, wanted to eat at Victoria Station for our special day. Never underestimate the telepathic twin powers! *Cue Twilight Zone music*