Meena Geltink and Minal Tijssen, born in Mumbai in the early 1980s and raised near each other in the Netherlands, learned through a DNA test that they share the same biological parents after decades of friendship.
How two adopted girls first met in the Netherlands
Meena Geltink and Minal Tijssen were born in Mumbai in the early 1980s and adopted by separate Dutch families within months of each other. They first encountered one another in their early teens during an event organised by the adoption agency. Friends at the gathering pointed out striking physical similarities, including matching noses and laughter. The two exchanged contact details and began writing letters, often signing them as "Sis" despite having no evidence of a blood relation at the time. Meena, now 43, recalled that all the adopted children were brought together to hang out, bond and have dinner. Both were with friends who noticed how similar they looked and said, "Look at yourselves in the mirror." Meena remembered thinking, "Oh my God, she has my nose! We have the same laugh." At dinner she kept looking at Minal the whole time. The connection felt instant even without proof of shared parentage, and the girls promised to stay in touch after that single evening. They continued the correspondence for years, sharing details of daily life while living in nearby Dutch communities.
Years of friendship followed by a long gap in contact
The pair shared details about school, music preferences such as the Backstreet Boys, sports, and social lives. They wrote about friends, boys, going out and dancing. Contact ended around fifteen years ago when Minal moved to France and Meena focused on raising her first child. In 2017 Meena took a DNA test after attending another adoptee meeting but found no matches and later deleted the application due to phone storage limits. Even without proof of blood ties, their connection felt immediate and they addressed letters to each other as "Sis" because they felt that way. The letters continued for years after the initial meeting, covering everyday teenage concerns and shared interests before life changes created distance. Meena later described how the friendship persisted through regular exchanges until practical circumstances separated their routines.
The DNA match that confirmed their relationship
On 20 May Minal contacted Meena via Facebook after her own test in April. The results showed a 100 percent match, indicating they are full sisters who share both biological parents. Meena described the moment as an adrenaline rush and cried upon seeing the confirmation. She said it was like an adrenaline shot and that Minal was her missing puzzle piece. Minal initially did not connect the match to the girl she met decades earlier until she reviewed old photos on social media and saw "Meena: Sister." She could not believe it. Meena had deleted the app earlier because her phone storage was full and had to reinstall it, entering the wrong password ten times before logging in. The test result provided the confirmation that their long-held intuition had been correct all along. The match established they were full sisters sharing the same mother and father, turning years of intuitive closeness into verified fact.
Emotional reunion and reactions from family members
The sisters met again in August on a sunny day. They described the gathering as a homecoming that filled a long-standing emotional gap. Reuters reported tears, hugs and laughter during the meeting, followed by their first joint selfie. Both women have since introduced each other to spouses, children, siblings and parents. Observers note similarities in speech patterns, head movements and walking styles. Everyone notices how they finish each other's sentences and move or walk similarly. The fact they are siblings is still sinking in. The reunion allowed them to meet each other's extended families and observe the physical and behavioral parallels that had been present since their teenage years. Minal, now 44 and living in France with her partner and two sons, reflected that they had been sisters the whole time without knowing it.
Efforts to trace biological roots in India
In 2003 Meena visited the Mumbai orphanage with her adoptive parents and brother but received no information about her biological family. She and Minal have expressed interest in travelling to Mumbai together to walk the streets where their story began. Meena maintains daily contact with her adoptive mother, who remains her main source of support after her father's death. She grew up in a small village where her parents taught at a private school and were very loving and trusting. Her mother continues to live in the same village and Meena says they talk every day and she is still her safe space. The orphanage visit yielded no details on biological parents despite the family's efforts to search records over two weeks. The sisters now discuss the possibility of a joint return to India to explore the city of their birth.
Frequently asked questions
How did Meena and Minal first connect?
They met at an adoption agency event in their early teens where other children noticed their resemblance and encouraged them to compare appearances in a mirror.
What did the DNA test show?
The test indicated a full sibling match, confirming they share the same biological mother and father.
Why did contact stop for fifteen years?
Minal moved to France while Meena became busy after having her first child, leading to a natural drift in communication.
Have they met each other's families?
Yes, the sisters have introduced one another to spouses, children, brothers and parents since the match was confirmed.
Do they plan to visit India together?
They have discussed returning to Mumbai to explore the city where both were born and adopted.
Key takeaways
Meena Geltink and Minal Tijssen learned they are full sisters through a DNA test after 30 years of friendship. The women were adopted from separate Mumbai orphanages by Dutch families in the early 1980s. They first met at an adoptee event in their teens and maintained letter contact for years. Contact resumed when Minal shared her DNA results via Facebook. The pair have since reconnected with each other's extended families and expressed a desire to visit India together.
Outlook for the sisters
Meena and Minal continue to speak every other day and are adjusting to their new understanding of their relationship. They reflect on periods of loneliness they experienced separately and wish they had known the truth earlier to support each other through difficult times. Their case illustrates how consumer DNA testing can resolve long-standing questions for international adoptees. Sometimes they talk for two hours and lose track of time, suddenly remembering they have to do groceries or pick up children from school. One thing they would love to do is return to India together. The confirmation has allowed them to fill the emotional gaps each had carried for decades.
