The general's daughter

Zain Zia, daughter of former Pakistanruler General Zia-ul-Haq, was a state guest when she first came to India morethan two decades ago.This time around, her visit is low key. "When Ifirst came here, I didn’t under-stand what was happening. Though I doremember meeting Indira Gandhi. She was very sweet," recalls Zain(32).What’s brought the former Pakistani ruler’sdaughter to India is, surprisingly, the music release of a Hindi film —Doobara, which stars a Pakistani actor. "Abbu would have been veryhappy to see relations between the two countries improving," shesays.Zain’s Bollywood connection runs deep. It was duringShatrughan Sinha’s visit to Pakistan a couple of decades ago that shefirst met him."He is an elder brother to me." Zain plans to pray atHaji Ali before going to Ajmer and Delhi.Childhood for Zain was amix of bittersweet memories. While she struggled to correct her speech andhearing problems, Zain was a most pampered child.Today, thoughshe’s missing Abbu, Zain finds comfort in the fact that Indians are somuch like people back home. "Nothing’s different."