Sister trio, Nandana and Mahvesh - who run design house N&M, and Mehmoona Bashar, head of PR and communications at Sherry Rehman’s Think Tank, talk sisterhood. From their first memories of each other to everything they get up to together, these siblings share it all
What’s your first memory of each other?
Nandana: Mahvesh reading Archie comics quietly but also taking notes of everything around her and Mehmoona locking herself in the bathroom and making false threats that she would tell our parents that I beat her.
Mahvesh: Biting Mehmoona’s finger out of jealousy when she was six months old and Nandana making me eat bird food or drink paint before I was allowed to play with friends (that were mine).
Mehmoona: Sitting behind Nandana during the days we had MSN, reading her chats with a bag of chips like I was at the movies. Also, picking up the landline from the other side while she was on the phone. Mahvesh and I had a lot of pretend salon sessions where she would use lotion in my hair as hair dye.
What is the craziest thing you have done together?
Nandana: What happens in Barcelona stays in Barcelona!
Mahvesh: Our sister trip to Barcelona! Enough said!
Mehmoona: Our Whatsapp group chat has a lot of crazy stuff going on, on it.
What did you get punished for the most as a child?
Nandana: Not fixing my cupboard and breaking curfews was standard. Signing my own report card was a bonus.
Mahvesh: I’ve gotten scolded the most, for not sticking to curfews or just being lazy about something I had been told to do.
Mehmoona: Breaking curfews and not studying when it was time to.
If you could only wear one piece of clothing for the rest of your life, from the others closet, what would it be?
Nandana: Mahvesh’s vintage saris given to her by mummy and pretty much everything Mehmoona owns.
Mahvesh: We have similar clothes so Nandana’s baraat set that belonged to my grandmother.
Mehmoona: Mahvesh has a few of our mum’s beautiful saris I wish I got my hands on first, and Nandana’s wedding jewellery that belonged to our grandmother.
If you could swap places with each other, what’s the first thing you would do?
Nandana: Take Mahvesh’s level head and put it on my shoulders and take all her money and put it in her savings. And with Mehmoona, I’d put all the people who have been mean to her in their place since she’s way too nice to do so.
Mahvesh: Get rid of Mehmoona’s super long pink kurta that she loves lounging in. If I were Nandana I’d start doing things more spontaneously. She plans too much.
Mehmoona: Eat the way Mahvesh does without worrying about piling on the pounds. Cuddle with Nandana’s daughter Jasmeyn.
What is the one thing you love about your sibling?
Nandana: Mahvesh’s determination and emotional stability and Mehmoona’s laugh and her “let’s jump- how high” attitude which really means she’s ready to do anything.
Mahvesh: I love that I can force Mehmoona to do anything and I love Nandana’s ability to make friends easily.
Mehmoona: Nandana has the ability to make you laugh even when you can’t or aren’t supposed to. I love how Mahvesh is determined towards what she thinks is right.
If you are fighting with each other, how do you make up?
Nandana: We don’t need to make up, it just happens.
Mahvesh: We don’t. It happens automatically.
Mehmoona: We usually end up forgetting about it after a while.
What is the one secret talent your sibling has, that you wish you did too?
Nandana: Mahvesh’s random business ventures and Mehmoona’s hairstyling techniques.
Mahvesh: Mehmoona can pluck her eyebrows without looking and Nandana doesn’t let people mess with her.
Mehmoona: Mahvesh can lift things with her feet when she’s too lazy to bend and Nandana makes the best banana bread and oatmeal cookies.
Describe your sibling in three words:
Nandana: Mahvesh- level-headed, determined, financially reckless. Mehmoona- Easy-going, funny, in vogue.
Mahvesh: Mehmoona- dependable, funny, fashion forward. Nandana- unreserved, amiable, fierce.
Mehmoona: Nandana - confident, good-humored, practical. Mahvesh - driven, chic, spontaneous.
Which fictional character is your sibling most like?
Nandana: Mehmoona - Marty from Madagascar, Mahvesh - Coco.
Mahvesh: Mehmoona - Marty from Madagascar, Nandana - Daisy Duck.
Mehmoona: Nandana - Dory, Mahvesh - Professor Ducktales.
How are your personalities similar?
Nandana: We are all mental. Period!
Mahvesh: We can laugh endlessly over the same senseless jokes.
Mehmoona: We don’t make a big deal out of situations that aren’t meant to and know how to laugh at ourselves.
I can’t live without my sisters because…
Nandana: Who needs friends when you have sisters? (sorry friends)
Mahvesh: That would mean no sister Whatsapp group - the place with all the answers you’re looking for!
Mehmoona: They are my go-to for almost everything.
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