It could have been easily been mistaken for a Diwali celebration. But in reality it was the members of Dr Mohammed Haneef's household celebrating after charges against the doctor were dropped in Australia on Friday.

Sweets were distributed among friends and neighbours. There was a bustle outside Haneef's residence all through the night.

Haneef who was held in Australia for his alleged role in the UK terror plot had been cleared of all charges on Friday.

His wife Firdous Ahsriya who looked immensely happy is, however, not in any revenge seeking mode.

She told rediff.com that the past had to be put behind and the family does not want to even discuss what had happenned.

"� want to put it behind me as though it was a nightmare," she said.

She said that neither she nor her family were expecting any apology from the Australian government.

Firdous said there was no point in seeking an apology as it would not serve any purpose.

"It is time to start life afresh and we are looking forward to Haneef's return," she said.

She was however firm that Haneef returns with all the honour and hoped that the Australian government would provide him with a visa.

Haneef's sister, Sumaya Tabasum, who could not stop smiling even for a second, said, "The prayers have been answered. I had told you one day that my brother cannot be involved in a terror attack. Haven't I proved you right?"

Meanwhile, there was a change of heart on the part of both neighbours and friends.

For the first time in 25 days, Haneef neighbours came out and stood along with his family members.

All these days, there was not a whisper from them and they preferred to remain tight- lipped on the issue.

Some of Haneef's friends too were seen around the household.

Said, Samir, a friend of Haneef's, "God is great and he is the one who has bailed my friend out."

The college management of the Dr B R Ambedkar Medical College where Haneef studies too heaved a sigh of relief after the doctor had been cleared.

A member of the faculty said, "We could not believe that Haneef could have been involved in a terrorist attack. But now were relieved. The truth has finally prevailed."