Hesitant at first, she waived aside the photographer's plea to capture her on his lens. "We are overwhelmed with the public support. Thank you so much," the hausfrau smiled even as guests congratulated her heartily.

"I am so happy. This just goes to show that there is still justice," she acknowledged between taking phone calls and managing the guests. The Bhatias who are presently staying at the Divisional Commissioner's bungalow had planned to move residence by mid-April at Yerawada.

Even attendant Ram and Bhatia's chauffeur Pawar couldn't stop grinning quipping, "Arre hum to saab ka driver hai, saab ne humko ye acchi kabhar chaar baje hi bola tha," (I am the master's driver and he had told us the good news at 4 pm).

Well wishers who started trickling in gushed at the landmark decision by the Mumbai High Court which ordered Bhatia's reinstatement as Pune Municipal Commissioner with immediate effect. Applauding the judiciary's decision and cheering the tremendous public support, Bhatia's phone call at 7.30 p.m to his wife had all of them making a beeline to the next room.

Even as the overjoyed Preet Bhatia was about to replace the receiver, she was greeted with astonished cries from a few guests who had rushed in to speak to the man of the moment.