On the face of it this seems to be a noble, a political humanitarian gesture. However, this may be more a perfect marriage of convenience than an act of altruism.

After all, when the Bardoli issue was at its peak, when the saffron brigade was denouncing the ``international conspiracy'' behind inter-community marriages, Cyclewala was planning to denounce the theory by felicitating couples in such marriages.

That was then, this is now. Says VHP's Women Wing president Tarulataben Joshi, acknowledging the support extended to Cyclewalla, says: ``She is a woman traumatised by her own community.''

When asked if this was in keeping with the VHP's anti-Muslim stand, she says ``Weare not against Muslims, we are nationalists. We target anyone who poses a threat to our country.''

Joshi and the VHP's city unit chief Laljibhai Patel say their motive is to ``bring more women out from closed walls into the open.''

Cyclewalla admits there are differences ``but this time we are on a common platform.''

Zehra's own community is as bemused by Cyclewalla's stand as by the VHP's support for her. ``Either Cyclewala is not a Muslim or the VHP is not a Hindu organisation,'' says community leader Shaikh Taiyebali Madarwala. Another leader dismissed it as a political stunt, adding that the Bohras preferred not to take the VHP seriously. Other community leaders said they had been preventing attacks on Cyclewalla by Bohra ``youths and fanatics''. She has indeed received threats and has been provided police protection.

The relationship between protagonist and protector is tenuous at times. Sitting on dharna -- literally a common platform -- in front of the Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin's grandmansion in Nanpura, Joshi and Cyclewala cannot avoid raking up the old Hindu-Muslim debate. Joshi speaks emphatically of the ``international conspiracy to lure Hindu girls followed by marriages to increase the Muslim population.'' Cyclewala disagrees.

They do agree, though, that forceful conversions are wrong; ``whoever marries member of the other community with evil intentions should be denounced.''

Her own agenda is more certain. She is single-minded in her determination to obtain justice from the Syedna. ``I am not going to apologist for I have not committed any wrong,'' she maintains. Far from backing down, Zehra is intensifying her protest: Monday sees her embark on a fast-unto-death.

``There are scores of Dawoodi Bohra women who say they have been ill-treated and abused but have not been to muster up the courage to speak out. They call me up and express solidarity over the telephone but are afraid that they might be ostracized,'' she says. However, after 13 years of struggle, she still hasn'treceived much open support from fellow Bohras.

Cyclewalla, a bank employee, began her protest after a ban by Bohra leaders on working in a bank or cooperative society as the Koran prohibits living off interest money. ``When the community can rent its property to the Bank of Baroda, why can't I continue to work?'' she asks. After much litigation, she has held on to her job but has been excommunicated by the community.

While she is demanding that the community withdraw the social boycott, Bohra leaders accuse her of hankering for money. ``Her house is surrounded by Dawoodi Bohras, do you call that a boycott?'' asks community elder Kaisar Morkas. ``If she is right, why isn't her flock growing? If she is not happy with the community she has many options,'' he adds.

Interestingly, no other women's organisation has deemed fit to come out in support of Cyclewalla. When asked, Akhil Hind Mahila Parishad president Vandana Desai said, ``We didn't support or oppose her because she was fighting only for herself andher community. It's a community affair. If she takes up cudgels for all women we'll extend support.''