When Renuka spoke to Randhir after he returned to Mumbai she did not mince words about her intentions, she told him clearly how their association with the Chauhans could benefit the business, all it would take was for him to cultivate a friendship with Ira, and Renuka would handle the rest with Ira's father. Randhir reminded his mother that she had made him the same proposition about Ishika, and that he was not comfortable with the idea of being used as bait whenever his mother went fishing for opportunities. Renuka retorted that Ishika was engaged to Rehan only because Randhir refused to court her, telling him he ought to plan long term since he was going to inherit Shekhawat Industries anyway. 

Randhir was equally clear to his mother about not wanting to get romantically involved with anyone-without admitting that he was already living in with Sanyukta- as he did not want relationship issues to affect his academics. Renuka tried to reason with him, she told him he did not have to commit himself to Ira, he could simply become friends with her and see her socially, after all she did belong to a noble clan like he did, and background mattered a lot. Besides she was pretty, had good taste and was quite sophisticated, all qualities Renuka considered vital for a girl being date-worthy for her son. Randhir consented to be civil with the girl when he met her just to appease his mother. He knew Renuka would pursue the matter relentlessly till he gave in. 

It was not as if he would have to date Ira, she lived in New Delhi while he was in Mumbai for the next eight months. He was hardly aware that Ira had been waiting to connect with him over the phone and through social networking. No sooner had Randhir agreed to entertain Renuka's idea  he received a friend request from Ira. On getting a favourable response from him she was emboldened enough to call him. Randhir picked up his phone apprehensively, not sure how he should deal with the girl who was so smitten with him. Surprisingly she came across as a mature girl, quite lively, and passionate about zumba dancing, trekking and adventure sports. As Randhir hung up he mused that she was a complete contrast to Sanyukta, although she was the same age as her.

Vidushi had warned him against mentioning Ira to Sanyukta, but Randhir did not want to keep her in the dark, trust was vital to any bond, he had been quite shaken up to know that Sanyukta has masqueraded as Yasmeen all along- she was still Yasmeen for Aman and his grandmother. But she had done that out of her love for him, so he had let the issue slide. His dilemma was that Ira was infatuated with him, he had to humour his mother by being friends with Ira and being in a relationship with Sanyukta at the same time. He could sense a storm rising in the horizon, he decided to wait a while before breaking it to Sanyukta. He also felt uneasy about keeping Ira in the dark about Sanyukta, so he had dropped subtle hints about being a long way off from settling down, he hoped that she could smell the coffee from afar.

He had never foreseen that fate would bring him together with Sanyukta under the same roof, in fact he had chosen to walk away from the girl three years ago. It would be unwise for Renuka to know about the presence of Sanyukta in his life. His mother was ruthlessly ambitious, she may perceive Sanyukta as an impediment in his chosen path and he did not want her bearing down on Sanyukta who was at a vulnerable stage in life, being estranged from her family. He was in no position to support them financially yet, it would be imprudent to alienate his mother who was his biggest benefactor. And there was no point in blaming Ira, if not her then his mother would surely try to find him another potential girlfriend and eventually as she was hoping to, a trophy wife.

Putting it informally, life was screwing with him, but he told himself he would never throw in the towel so easily. A little tact and diplomacy could be relied upon to keep all three women at peace, and he could always depend on Vidushi for a second opinion, she was the biggest shipper of his romance. He wondered how his ancestors dealt with so many women around them, perhaps they added more to their harem when they needed to escape the existing ones, he thought wryly. He would have pondered on the issue longer had not Sanyukta dragged him into the car along with Aman. The city was celebrating the festival of Mumbai's favourite deity Ganpati or Lord Ganesha and he had agreed to take them pandal hopping. 

The first day of the festival was a state holiday and Sanyukta made a traditional Maharashtrian lunch that she served on a banana leaf, she was always trying out things she learnt in college, and to Aman's delight the feast included his favourite steamed modak, shrikhand-puri, batata or potato bhaji and varan-bhaat. Tradition dictated that accompaniments like pickle, chutney, koshimbir or kachumber, papad, etc are served along the left rim of the leaf while the vegetables and curries go on the right. The sweets and puris were in the centre , the rice closest to the diner. Aman, Parth and Randhir competed with each other to see who could eat the most modaks, they only relented when they realised there would be none left for Sanyukta and they reluctantly declared Parth the winner. Parth returned to the hostel to sleep off his heavy lunch and to give the lovers some alone time. 

Aman was thrilled to see the large Sarvajanik or community idols and the pandals decorated to various social or mythological themes. He insisted on having his picture taken in every pandal they visited. Traditional themed venues had cultural performances like Dhol- Lezim. The aarti Sukh-karta Dukh-harta (Giver of happiness and Remover of troubles) ubiquitously sung to express devotion to their Ganpati bappa resonated in homes, temples and pandals during the festival. Randhir was quite familiar with the following of Ganpati amongst the city dwellers. He had visited the Siddhivinayak temple where he observed people whisper fervent prayers in the ears of the silve mice installed before the idol, in the belief that the plea would be conveyed forth by them.

He could see Sanyukta bend her head in devotion as she led Aman closer to the idol so he could receive the Prasad. Seeing Randhir hesitate she drew him closer gently asking him to pay obeisance. As Randhir stepped forward with folded hands he thought about the predicament bothering him. People had faith in Lord Ganesha's role as a dispeller of obstacles, he too decided to ask for guidance and wisdom so he could address the challenges he faced in an optimal way, without hurting anyone close to him or having to lose sight of his goals. He prayed for bringing Sanyukta and Aman closer to their dreams, he knew Sanyukta was eager to involve herself in the wellbeing of the little boy. His life and career was mapped by his mother, he hoped that Lord Ganesha would make her realise someday that true happiness lay beyond the boardroom, that day he would have won half the battle.