It Runs In The Family: Bushra Abbas And Aden Rehan

Bushra Abbas and Aden Rehan, head PR guru at Aden Rehan PR & Management Solutions, talk sisterhood. From going on school trips together as children to exploring California together as adults — these siblings share it all!

What is your first memory of each other?

Bushra: When our mother and father brought her home. I remember her all wrapped up in a beautiful grey and white satin blanket. She had rosy pink cheeks and was the cutest baby that I have ever seen till date. In many ways, I first experienced motherhood with her. I remember holding her right after I came home from school the next day – those memories are very dear to me.

Aden: When I was four years old and she was 13 years old, I went with her on her school trip to Mangla Dam. She was the only teenager who took their four-year-old sibling with them. She also included me in all the conversations and singing sessions with her friends. In my teenage years she was very blunt though!



What is the craziest thing you have done together?

Bushra: What haven’t we tried! Besides our childhood adventures, the summer of 2011 was the craziest time in our adulthood. From late night awara gardi to pulling all-nighters for soulful conversations, we have done it all. We laughed so hard that our parents used to wake up in frenzy at 3am. I remember crossing roads with her as she held my hand and dragged me from one place to another because I had forgotten to navigate Lahore’s traffic on foot. However, the craziest time was our one-week holiday in California last fall. We had a blast! We had tons of places to explore and a whole lot of catching up to do.

Aden: We took the stage at a bar in Vegas, danced on and sang the Barbie song! The audience was quite entertained.

What did you get punished for the most as a child?

Bushra: I was mostly punished for being sassy. I was too impetuous to hold my tongue. I did learn that art later on though.

Aden: Once I drew monsters on her Physics notebook a night before her exam. It was my mistake but since I am the baby of the house, our mother punished her for putting the notebook within my reach instead of scolding me. I feel sorry for her now. If you could only wear one piece of clothing for the rest of your life, from the others closet, what would it be?

Bushra: I would wear her pyjamas. She has such a nice collection of cute and comfortable pyjamas – I want to steal them all!

Aden: Her pyjamas are more comfortable than mine.



What is the one thing you love about your sister?

Bushra: I can’t say just one. I love her free spiritedness, her ability to let go, her decisiveness, her confidence in herself and her choices, her sense of humour, her sense of style, her easy-going personality and her ability to lead. I wish I could put in words how proud I am of my baby sister!

Aden: Her optimism, her willpower, her strength and how she deals with people and situations in life. I love each and every thing about her.

If you could swap places with each other, what’s the first thing you would you do?

Bushra: She does what she does the best; I’m nowhere near her sphere of talents. However, if I get to play her for a day or two, I would go on a nice relaxing break to northern Pakistan. I know that exploring new places and eating good food makes her happy, so I’d do just that (and hope the latter doesn’t appear on my thighs).

Aden: I would buy sexier clothes for myself!

If you are fighting with each other, how do you make up?

Bushra: I think it’s my birth right to be mad at her, give her an earful and then talk to her as if nothing happened. The same is true even now that she is an adult and a successful businesswoman.

Aden: We never fight, but even if we argue, we explain our point of views, accept each other’s opinions and let go.



What is the one secret talent your sister has, that you wish you had too?

Bushra: Many, but I would love to have the charisma that she has.

Aden: I wish I had her voice and her patience.

Describe your sister in three words:

Bushra: Fierce, fearless and free spirited.

Aden: Strong, empathetic and beautiful inside out.

Which fictional character is your sister most like?

Bushra: Her sassiness reminds me of Junior B Jones. She’ll tell you whatever is on her mind for sure.

Aden: She has a very ‘I can do it’ attitude in life. She can easily be a superwoman who multitasks fantastically.

How are your personalities similar?

Bushra: I think both of us are deep thinkers but very practical.

Aden: We are both very easy to be with, we have a similar social behaviour. We adapt and get comfortable at different places with different people. We are both entertaining too!

I can’t live without my sister because…

Bushra: It won’t be fun.

Aden: I believe blood is thicker than water. Family always comes first.