By Abdool Aziz
BEHOLD THE BEAUTY
Nigel Singh was 12 years old when he went on a school tour in the 50s to Lusignan, to see the late Princess Margaret of Great Britain. She stunned him with her beauty. He had never seen a white girl yet, so close up. Was she for real? He heart danced the tango of ecstasy. He vowed to go to England and marry a Caucasian, exhibiting those blue marble eyes. Only a white girl will do for a life partner.

TO THE ‘MOTHER COUNTRY’
At age 23, he inherited a fortune from his father’s real estate business. He sold out, except for the family mansion, then boarded the ‘Atlantic Pride’, for England- which was then our mother country. He was ‘loaded’ so he booked into luxurious hotels. In search for his ‘Princess’, he frequented the bars, nightclubs, etc. He smoked and had a good time. The British ladies loved the nightlife. He spent lavishly. The pleasure, however, was artificial. There was no emotional commitment. He was open to love but no one was interested. England was bitten by a race bug. His kind was considered ‘Garbage’ by the whites, he was disappointed.

LEAP INTO FRANCE
Finding no Love from these `aristocratic’ madams, he crossed the England Channel into France. He found the mademoiselles more friendly and open. Yet no love, the flings were great but skin-deep. French women were great lovers but marriage was not on the cards.

OFF TO GERMANY
These people loved partying and having flings. But marriage was not in their books, especially to a brown-skin guy called ‘Paki’. The search for his soulmate came up empty. There was no German wife for him either. So he packed his bag and travelled to Italy, hoping he would have better luck there.

THE GOLDDIGGER IN ROME
Night after night he visited the sleazy joints. He tried his luck in supermarkets and public places. Then he met Lola at the park. She showed great interest in him. He spent a lot of money to gain her ‘Love’. In the end, he got taken because Lola was a golddigger. It was his money, not his Love. Now heartbroken and low on cash, he decided to return home. No blue-eyed Blonde, Redhead or Brunette, but a deflated ego and deranged emotions.

LOVE IN HIS ‘BACKYARD’
Alone in his dilapidated mansion, he felt sick and weak, he needed someone to take care of him. He placed an ad, and Indra answered it. She was his schoolmate, and he was her secret love. Now she finally got a chance to expose her feelings. Indra said: “When you left for England, you broke my heart. But I sustained that love in your absence, hoping you will be back.” Nigel replied: “You mean you really love me?”
“Yes, I do, since school days. But I knew I was a peasant, not your type. You always talked of the white chicks and London and you were so aloof, but my heart fell for you.”
She hugged and kissed him.
“All these years,” he said.
For the first time, he felt an electric feeling flash through his tortured heart. Many arms did circle his body, many lips caressed him but Indra’s was different. It was an embrace of love, not lust.
She explained: “True love is like nutgrass – sometimes the leaves are destroyed and you think the grass has died. No! No! The nut produces new growth. Those leaves wilted when you ran to England but my true love, the nut didn’t die. Sincere love lasts and matures in time, despite trials and tribulations. Absence made my heart fonder.”
He held her tightly and felt born again as he stared into her brown eyes.
Love at last in his homeland.