• Desi Girl Struggles

    “Why We Tear Each Other Down Instead of Lifting Each Other Up”

    Ruqayya and Ramsha are twin sisters, but not in the usual sense. Their lives have been intertwined since birth, and yet, the comparisons never seem to stop. Growing up in a South Asian family where being perfect was the expectation, Ruqayya always stood out as the one who excelled in everything—academics, social life, and even relationships. On the other hand, Ramsha, though bright and talented in her own way, always seemed to fall short of her family’s expectations. Despite the constant pressure to be like her sister, Ramsha found herself struggling to meet the standards set by her parents and others around her. While Ruqayya’s accomplishments were celebrated, Ramsha’s perceived…

  • Desi Girl Struggles

    “Passed Down Pride: How Family Comparisons Shaped My Competitive Mindset”

    Two Sisters, One Story Told Two Different Ways Meera and Diya. In the eyes of their extended family, they couldn’t have been more different. Meera was the poster child for “how a beti should be.”Married at the right time, in the right outfit, to the right man. A corporate success with the “perfect” smile. Her photos were the kind that got printed and framed in the living room. Diya was… chaos, according to them.Loud, vibrant, independent. Too many parties, too many piercings, too many questions. Tattoos, cropped tops, and an open refusal to get married. The irony? They were both just trying to survive a system that told them their…