By Subhash K Jha

Irony couldn't go any further. When on Friday Adnan Sami's son finally made his singing debut on stage in Dubai at the Expo Stadium in front of a sold-out 45, 000-strong audience, the concert was ironically sponsored by the Galadari group and Khaleej Times, which are owned partly by Adnan's estranged wife Sabah.

Says a source, "Sabah tried her best to stop the concert, even threatened to pull out the Galadari sponsorship from the concert if Adnan's son performed. But the co-sponsors were adamant."

Hence even as she fights a bitter marital and property battle with Adnan, Sabah's name was linked to Adnan's son's stage debut for all times to come.

If all had gone well Adnan Sami's son Azaan would have made his stage debut at a New Year's eve concert on December 31.

"But the New Year's even show in Dubai was cancelled due to disturbances at the Gaza Strip. Azaan didn't really want to come on stage this time. But I persuaded him. I called him at the end of the show to join me for my song Lift karade. It was a very emotional moment for me. My boy was finally and formally on stage."