And an endless wait for reunion.

The movie Veer Zaara is in news these days as it is re-released after 20 years. When I first watched Veer-Zaara 20 years ago, it felt like a dream—an enchanting love story that effortlessly crossed the seemingly insurmountable borders between India and Pakistan. Back then, it was all about the magic of romance, the simplicity of love blossoming despite the chaos of politics. I remember women swooning over Shah Rukh Khan as Squadron Leader Veer Pratap Singh, his quiet strength and devotion melting our hearts. Preity Zinta, with her grace and innocence as Zaara Hayat Khan, seemed the perfect match for him. Their story felt larger than life, a fairytale of hope, love, sacrifice and a happy ending.

It wasn’t until years later, after experiencing the harsh realities of life, war, and the pain of separation—both personal and political—that Veer-Zaara transformed into something far more profound. Something which tears my heart apart every time I think about it. My own Veer & Zaara, but with one heartbreaking difference—my Zaara, Mrs. Damyanti Tambay, is still waiting for her beloved husband, Flt. Lt. Vijay Vasant Tambay, who was taken as a Prisoner of War during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. And unlike the fictional movie, both of them are Indians, bound by love and an agonizing wait to reunite. Six-time national badminton champion, Damayanti Subedar Tambay gave up her career in 1971, just 18 months after her marriage. She had a far more critical mission ahead, finding her missing husband. Vijay, a dashing pilot in the Indian Air Force, was stationed in Ambala, where he flew the sleek and powerful Super-7s.

The last time she saw her husband, Flight Lieutenant Vijay Vasant Tambay, was on December 3, 1971, at their home in the Ambala Cantonment. That night, Ambala came under heavy bombardment as war had erupted. Tambay’s squadron was immediately deployed to a forward area, and Damayanti spent the first few nights in bunkers before shifting to her parents’ house when war was at it peak. Soon the devastating news came through the radio—his plane had been shot down, and he was missing in action.

The December 5, 1971, issue of the Pakistan Sunday Observer gave Damayanti Tambay a glimmer of hope. The report mentioned that her husband, an Indian fighter pilot—though his name was misspelt as “Flight Lieutenant Tombay”—was one of five pilots captured alive by Pakistan. Her hope was reignited in 1979 when a minister informed the Pakistani parliament that 40 Indian defence personnel were still being held in Pakistani jails. It’s been over half a century since Damyanti has been looking for her husband. She along with family members of 53 other Indian soldiers even went to Pakistani jails twice to look for their loved ones. But the lack of political will and strong denial by Pakistan about having any Indian PoWs forced them to leave empty-handed. Damyanti has met every Prime Minister and Defence Minister since 1972 onwards to help her get her husband back from Pakistan.

But now for the last few years, she has stopped. She says, “Missing soldiers and their families mean nothing, no one cares about them.” And this makes you question your leaders and politicians.

I am not the first one who is writing about her or the other missing 53 soldiers of the 1971 War. The internet is full of their stories and struggles with the system, especially our not-so-friendly neighbour.

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