There were a string of women on Prem's list. There were many he wooed simultaneously.
What was behind his philandering ways - lust, a sense of power or a moral depravity? Writer Indra Sinha in his book, "The Death of Mr Love" reveals otherwise.

His character in the book, Prem says: "It is not beauty which attracts me but some small peculiarity. If I see amusement, alarm or even contempt, in a womans eyes when she is talking to me, I can't help wondering what message they will convey when they are inches from mine during the love act.

If I see a pair of thin lips which their owner has tried to disguise by painting a voluptuous shape around them, it makes me want to find out how a woman so aware of the ugliness of her mouth will use it for kissing."

The mysterious Mrs X is ashamed that she has allowed Prem to strip her naked. But continues her secret meetings with him!

She says: "I don't know why or how. But later on I came to the conclusion that Ahuja was probably drugging me. At a party I overheard a South Indian talking about a mysterious yellow powder which could throw you into a trance. And then it all came back to me. That day when I complained of a hangover from the drink, Prem gave me a yellow powder and asked me to gulp it down with water…"

A conversation with some old timers (name changed to protect identity) in Mumbai hints at another motive behind the Prem-Sylvia liaison. Prem's motive could have been a means to access the high connections Nanavati had with the government via Sylvia. Justice Chandrachud hints at this motive. This link could also help him in his business dealings.

Let's go back to that day in April 1959, the month of sweltering heat in Mumbai. April 27, 1959. The time was about 3.00 pm. Mumbai was still sweaty and oppressive. It was enervating. Prem needed a break and decided to go home for a break from the damp heat.

(A little after 3.00 pm, someone came to the office asking for Prem Ahuja. But he had already left.)