When identical twins Mariam and Fatima Masood recently released their first book, I Know Who You Are, in Dubai, it was a revelation in more ways than one.
“Our compatibility as twins often made us wonder why people around us couldn't be as compatible,'' said Mariam, explaining how the reflection led them to talk about character skins, which they later decided to document in the form of the book.
The 25-year-old Pakistani twins, who have been in Dubai for the past 13 years, firmly believe that people are best understood by their character skins which determine their personalities.
As Sultan, the 13-year-old protagonist of the story prepares to move with his family into a new house, he discovers a mystical leather diary of his grandfather with whom he gets in touch and identifies five character skins, namely Flipside, Sticklip, Headspin, Hammerhead and Scuff, each relating to a different disposition. Flipside, for instance, is a pleasant and happy personality.
“By understanding each of the character skins, one can effectively deal with different types of people,'' said Fatima.
The book, which was first released in the UK in March this year, took two years to complete. The twins said with their writing styles being similar, they never had trouble editing one's writing to match the other's.
“We used to discuss the storyline together, decide which part we wanted to write and then work independently,'' said Mariam.
Alumni of the Pakistan Education Academy in Dubai, the sisters recall how they often scored the same marks in their exams. “In our class X board exams, Mariam scored one mark more than me,'' Fatima said.
The twins, who took to teaching for five years after they completed their studies, are now focusing on their literary pursuit, with their next book due for release in 2010.
Yet to be titled, the book is about “social terrorism'' and the general lack of accountability for the degenerating set of simple values around us.
