"Are you sure I've got all of my books?"

"Yes, Padma! Now stop worrying."

"What about my -"

"We packed everything! If you have forgotten anything we can send it to you, you know."

Parvati listened to her sister and mum's conversation while trying to swallow her own nerves. She'd never been to school before, having been taught at home by her mum, and the prospect of it was a bit unnerving. Would she like her lessons? Would she get lost where no one could find her? Most of all she worried about making friends.

Padma was not just Parvati's sister, or even just her twin; she was her best friend. They were inseparable, even if they were like chalk and cheese. Padma could solve a word puzzle in seconds but Parvati struggled, even with help. Parvati could paint brilliant landscapes that her parents would proudly display in the kitchen, while Padma hardly knew one end of the brush from the other. None of this mattered when they were together though; they always got on like a house on fire.

"Parvati?" asked her dad in his deep voice. "What's wrong?"

Parvati thought about her answer for a moment. She loved Padma, she really did, but what if she couldn't make other friends?

"Dad, what happens if all the other girls don't want to make friends with me because I'm already friends with Padma?" she finally asked. "What if they think just because we have each other we don't need anyone else. I don't want to be seen as Padma's sister or one of the twins. I want to be Parvati."

To her surprise, her dad chuckled.

"Parvati, you and Padma both shine too brightly to be ignored," he assured her with a smile.

"But-"

"Do you know what the best thing about you two is though?" he asked, cutting off her protest.

She shook her head, wondering where on earth her dad was going with this.

"While you both shine, it is in two very different colours," he answered, as Padma and her mum made their way over to them. "Anybody of worth will see that."

"Parvati, are you ready?" Padma asked, holding out her hand.

Parvati gave the platform one last sweeping look before taking her twin's hand.

"Definitely."