“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 shortcomings became a constant source of tension.
Ruqayya’s POV:
“I didn’t ask for this,” I mutter under my breath as I sit in the back of the room, watching my family proudly cheer for my sister as she receives yet another award. It’s as if everything I’ve done in my life isn’t enough. My mom, my dad—hell, even distant relatives—always look at me like I’m the one who can never get it right.
The constant comparisons between Ramsha and me are exhausting. I’ve always been the golden child, the one who’s made my parents proud. But it hurts to see how easily they tear Ramsha down. Her every mistake is highlighted while mine are swept under the rug. No one ever tells me that it’s okay to fail. No one tells me that I’m allowed to make mistakes, too.
I watch her now as she tries to smile, but I see through the façade. I can tell she’s hurting. Why can’t they see it? Why is it always about me? Sometimes, I wish I could just disappear, let someone else take the spotlight for once. But I can’t. I’m always expected to be perfect.
Ramsha’s POV:
My heart sinks as I watch my sister accept yet another accolade. The room is filled with applause, but all I can hear is the deafening silence that follows me around. The voice in my head keeps repeating: “You’re not good enough. You’re not as good as Ruqayya.”
Every day feels like I’m falling short of the expectations they have for me. No matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to measure up. In school, in relationships, even in the smallest tasks—I feel like I’m constantly compared to her. “Why can’t you be like Ruqayya?” My mom says it every time I make a mistake, every time I falter.
But it’s not that I don’t try. I try so hard. Yet, I’m always left in her shadow, always the one who’s labeled as the “bad egg.” It’s like nothing I do will ever be enough. I see the pride in my parents’ eyes when they look at her, but when they look at me, all I see is disappointment.
One day, I just couldn’t take it anymore. The constant comparisons, the constant feeling like I was never good enough. I ran away. I left the house and just wandered, not caring about where I was going. I didn’t want to hear their voices telling me how I wasn’t as good as Ruqayya. I needed to escape, even if it was only for a little while. But the weight of everything still pressed on me, and the silence that followed me was deafening.
I came back eventually, but that moment, that sense of feeling like I wasn’t welcome, stayed with me. It’s hard to be constantly pitted against someone who can do no wrong. How do you live up to that? How do you find peace when everything you do is measured against someone else’s success?
Conflict:
The rivalry between Ruqayya and Ramsha reaches a breaking point during a family gathering. Tensions between the two sisters escalate as Ruqayya’s success continues to shine, while Ramsha’s struggles are overshadowed by her sister’s accomplishments. Ramsha’s frustration reaches its peak as she finally confronts her family, demanding that they stop comparing her to her sister and acknowledge her unique qualities.
Resolution:
In a powerful moment, Ramsha steps up and addresses her family, her voice trembling but strong. “Why is it that I’m always seen as the bad twin? Why do you only ever see Ruqayya as the perfect one? Allah SWT didn’t create our lives to be a competition. He made us different for a reason. We have our own strengths, our own paths to follow. I am not her, and I shouldn’t have to be. I am enough just the way I am.”
Ruqayya, who had silently watched her sister speak, steps forward. She places a hand on Ramsha’s shoulder and looks at their parents with tears in her eyes. “She’s right. We are not the same, and that’s what makes us special. Instead of tearing each other down, we need to lift each other up. I’ve seen my sister work hard, and I’ve watched her struggle. I’m proud of her, just the way she is.”
Their parents, finally realizing the pain they had caused their daughters, apologize and vow to support both of them equally, acknowledging their individual talents and qualities. The sisters, now closer than ever, promise to stop competing with each other and instead celebrate each other’s achievements.
Moral of the Story:
Siblings are not meant to be rivals; they are meant to support one another. Life isn’t about competing to be better than someone else—it’s about embracing each other’s unique qualities and uplifting one another, especially in a world that often forces us to compare ourselves to others.