Enter Ahuja..

Prem, sensing Sylvia's loneliness would meet her regularly in Nanavati's absence. In Prem Ahuja Sylvia probably found an attentive and doting friend. Prem would be all attention for the extremely attractive Sylvia.

Sylvia was delicately built. The English rose, fair and pink, a soft rounded chin, smiling lips, deep blue eyes and dark wavy hair. She was a handsome lady, says former CJI then government pleader YV Chandrachud. Any man would have loved to befriend her, he adds.

Says Mr Chandrachud: One cannot really blame Ahuja of adultery. The Sylvia-Prem friendship was open and known to all. It was not without Kawas' connivance. Perhaps he sensed Sylvia's loneliness and let her enjoy with friends without anticipating a serious discord in their marital life.

But as days went by, Sylvia seemed to be drawing closer to Prem. The well built Prem Ahuja of the raffish look, hooded eyes, the thin upper lip which curls up at the corners. Always courteous and charming to women.

As her closeness grew, she on one occasion even accompanied Prem and Mamie to Delhi where they stayed at the Ashoka Hotel.

With each passing day, it seemed that Prem Ahuja was gaining more prominence in Sylvia's life. In her letter dated March 19, 1958 she writes: "Nothing else is as important as my being with you." She had even missed a dinner party organized by Kawas' younger brother Hoshang to be with Prem.

Sylvia had drawn mamie into her ring of confidence and had requested Mamie that if there were any queries from her family on why she visited their house so often, Mamie was to say that she had a headache and needed Sylvia to be with her.

For some time now, Prem had been pressing for marriage with Sylvia. He had been urging for more intimacy between them. For days, Sylvia had been fobbing off Prem's attempts to establish intimacy. But, the burgeoning desire of the body, unsatiated for days on end, was driving her crazy. And one day, in 1958 she relented.