FROM a young age, I grew up with an aspiration to be successful in life, to date beautiful girls, and to travel and see the extraordinary beauty of the world. As the years went by, through studies and hard work, I accomplished all of that and more. Then I felt a new desire in my heart.

I wanted a beautiful love story that would be uniquely different. How different, I didn’t know, but I lived with the hope that when I saw her, I would recognise her.

As a civil engineer, I have travelled to many countries and met wonderful women from all walks of life, but nowhere did I see her. I believe that patience is a virtue, and I assured myself that one day I would see her.

I had just reached a new chapter in my life, aged thirty, and was taking a long-overdue break from work when my family suggested I go with them to a wedding in our beautiful home country, Guyana. That aroused a little guilt in me because I hadn’t gone back for over sixteen years.

“Such a long time,” I mused.

I consented to the trip and, on arrival, was awed by the astounding developments.

“One time after another,” I expressed.

During the days that followed, leading up to the wedding, I quite enjoyed the friendly people, music, food, Banks beer and Demerara rum. It simply blew my mind—no place like home.

The wedding was a splendid three-day affair. The vibrant décor and fabulous Indian outfits worn by the guests, not to forget the tassa drums, were quite impressive. During that wedding period, I met many beautiful, glamorous girls, but recognised none as the one my heart desired.

“Where are you?” I asked, still holding on to hope.

Three days before my two weeks of vacation came to an end, I travelled up to the city with my family from the Corentyne for some shopping and sightseeing.

The minivan stopped at a traffic light and, turning to glance at the car that had stopped alongside, I saw her: an older but strikingly beautiful woman with dark-brown, lustrous hair. Then the light changed, and she drove away.

“Follow that car,” I urged my cousin.

He responded with surprise. “What? Why?”

“The woman who’s driving. I think I know her.”

He followed the car, a white Lexus that stopped at a café, and after seeing her walk in, I followed, saying to my family, “Just give me a few moments.”

I entered the café, looked around and saw her sitting alone at a table. She was on her phone and, taking a deep breath, I walked up to the table and said in a quiet, pleasant tone, “Excuse me.”

She looked up with mild curiosity. “Yes?”

“I saw you by the traffic light and thought you were someone I knew.”

“And am I?”

“No,” I answered a little apologetically.

She smiled, a warm little smile that almost stunned me because of the incredible rush of feelings I felt within.

“It happens sometimes.”

For that brief moment, my eyes held hers, and I said before I lost the chance, “You’re beautiful, in a unique way.”

At that moment, a friend joined her, so she didn’t respond except with a surprised look in her eyes. The friend looked at me and said, “Hi, handsome.”

I smiled and left with a happy feeling in my heart, for I had found her.

I couldn’t stop thinking of her and, lying in bed that night, I reflected on the short moment when I met her. I knew the surprised look in her eyes was because of the compliment I had paid her, an older woman.

I had waited so long to find her that age did not factor into my mind, nor did the possibility that she could have a husband and children. I just knew I had to see her again, so, with one day left, I extended my stay for one more week.

I booked in at the Marriott Hotel and met with a couple of businessmen to discuss prospects for investing in Guyana’s future. The next morning, after breakfast, I arranged for a hotel taxi to take me around town to look for her.

All I had to go on was the colour and model of the car, as I had not noted the licence plate number.

The taxi driver said to me, a little bemused, “Sir, there are many white Lexus vehicles in the city.”

“Well then, regard this as a challenge.”

The first day was unsuccessful and so tiring that I postponed another business meeting scheduled for that night.

On the second day, I continued my search and, around 2 p.m., noticed a car like hers parked at the side of a small gift shop. It was a neat little shop nestled between two big buildings that a stranger to the city would have missed.

I noted the name and business number and, taking a deep breath, said, “Please let it be her.”

I went inside and looked around at a beautiful, intricate little shop that reflected the owner’s personality. There were several customers, and I saw her attending to a classy-looking elderly lady.

The lady finished her purchase, turned around, looked at me and said, “Oh, what a handsome young man you are.”

She was smiling at the lady’s reaction and asked, “How can I help you?”

“Do you remember me?” I asked.

“Yep, the guy from the café,” she answered with a little tease in her voice.

I laughed a little. “Yeah, that’s me. I didn’t get to introduce myself before. I’m Aarav, and I’m a civil engineer from the US. I would like a little of your time to talk.”

“About what?”

“You.”

She smiled patiently and said, “I don’t think we would have much to talk about.”

“The fact that I’m attracted to you means there would be much to talk about.”

She looked at me for a short moment, then asked, “How old are you?”

“Thirty.”

She paused a little, shaking her head. “I’m forty-five.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

She looked at me in disbelief. “A fifteen-year difference doesn’t matter?”

“It doesn’t define my life or how I feel.”

She sighed and said, “You know I could have a husband and children.”

I glanced at her hand, saw no ring and asked, “Do you?”

She didn’t answer. She attended to another customer, then came back to where I was still waiting and said quietly, “Divorced with two children, but I can’t be seen with someone fifteen years younger than me.”

Her tone was gently dismissive, but I wasn’t giving up. Taking a deep breath, I said to her, “Since the first time I saw you at the traffic light, I felt a sudden attraction to you that I’ve never felt for anyone, so I followed you to the café just to see you and talk to you a little. Then I extended my stay and came to the city to search for you. I searched for two days so I could get to talk to you a little more and get to know you.”

She looked at me, at a loss for words, and I continued, “I leave in two days, so if we can have dinner, that would be great.”

She didn’t answer, and I could see in her eyes that she was battling doubts in her mind. She finally said, “I’m not sure it’s something I want to do.”

Her answer was a stab of disappointment for me, but I smiled with understanding and told her, “You should live your life for yourself and not for what society would think because, at the end of the day, you are the one who needs to feel happy.”

From the look in her eyes, I knew my words had touched her, and I left with the invitation still extended.

“Dinner at the Marriott at 8 p.m. I’ll wait for you.”

To be continued…