Love conquers all

They met up whilst still in school. He was doing his first year of the "A" Level programme at a multi-racial school, and she was doing her Grade 10.

This following is a gripping love adventure between Alex and Janet. Alex was a South African citizen, and Janet, a Swazi citizen. She was a very beautiful, but reserved young woman who took her school work seriously. Alex was a vibrant and extroverted young man, whom everybody loved for his charming demeanour. He was also a very versatile soccer player who played regularly for the school team. Janet loved basketball and was very good at it.

The moment they first set their eyes on each other, there was that instant attraction. School supper was held in the dining hall, with female students sitting and eating together, while the males occupied the other side of the dining hall. Flirting glances exchanged between Alex and Janet and one could predict that it was only a matter of time before something gave in.

After dinner, some students would remain behind, obviously gossiping until a bell rang signalling it was time to go back to the dormitories. Alex remained behind with the hope of getting time to talk to Janet, but since Janet was a prefect or head girl, she had to see to it that all students arrived timely into their dormitories.

Days went by without Alex getting time to talk to Janet. One day, Janet was asked by the matron to see to it that the dining hall was clean. After checking that all was well, Janet went out and saw Alex a distance off, waving at her. She eagerly went to meet him. After greeting her, Alex finally proposed!

Tears welled inside Janet's eyes, and she felt very weak at the knees. Alex sensed something was wrong and anxiously asked what was the matter. All Janet could say, was, "What took you so long, Alex?" The rest, as they say, was history!

Their affair was the envy of the school. Both were popular students and worked very hard at their books. During school walks to town on weekends, they walked together and spent time doing window shopping. They were the perfect match.

As fate would have it, the final year in their grades arrived, and it was time to part ways. Alex had to return to his homeland in South Africa. The parting was not an easy occasion. Both cried, uncontrollably. They both promised to keep in touch through phone calls and writing to each other.

Janet went t university, studied medicine and after graduation, worked for the ministry of health in her native country. Alex studied accountancy and later qualified as a Chartered Accountant, and worked in his country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After years of correspondence between the two, there finally was that inevitable drifting off, typical of a long distance relationships. Both were intent on making a success of their chosen careers. Janet missed Alex so much such that in moments of solitude, she could not stop the tears from falling down her face.

Then miracles of miracles happened! Alex was to be seconded to the country's embassy in Swaziland. He frantically wrote to Janet, after years of none communication, informing her of the good news. To say she was thrilled, would be the understatement of the year!

Their reunion was indescribable.

The joy, the embraces, the laughter and tears, were quite a scene to behold! After a year of patching up their relationship, Alex proposed marriage to Janet. They got married, bought a house and were blessed with two boys and a girl. Alex later resigned from the embassy, started a private Chartered Accountancy business. After a couple of years or so, he finally applied for Swazi citizenship and was granted.

Their careers thrived. Jane became a much-sought after medical doctor. She would at times be nominated to represent her country in medical, international meetings, and Alex would as spouse, would at times accompany her. As she grew in popularity, she was prompted by her constituency to get into politics, because she was such such a very focused person who did her best to uplift the healthcare standards of her country.

Eventually, she succumbed to the wishes of her constituency and won both primary and secondary elections. She was eventually appointed as Minister of Education in her country. Alex's private accountancy business thrived also, and he was appointed to lead the country's business community. He also represented his adopted country in numerous business conventions abroad and became a hugely influential business figure in his adopted country.

As fate would have it - again, his business colleagues urged him to get into politics. He succeeded and was appointed as ambassador in neighbouring Mozambique. The family relocated to that country and things went blissfully well for a couple that had gone through so much.

In the meantime, all their kids were brilliant in school, enrolled in university. The first-born was awarded a scholarship to study electrical engineering in England. The elder sister chose the nursing career, and later followed into her mother's footsteps, studying medicine and became a doctor. The young one loved music, studied opera and became a much-sought after opera singer, internationally acclaimed.

God blessed all their children with children of their own children. They married. During the festive season, the family and grandchildren would be together, celebrating. They were such a close-knit family. The community loved them so much. They were a very benevolent family, who now and again donated clothes and helped the underprivileged in the community. The festive season was a time for celebration with the community in the public hall, where all residents were given food parcels.

Yes...love conquers all!

Alex and Janet lived happily, thereafter. Sadly, like some fairy tale love affairs, this one ended tragically. Alex, during one of his travels abroad, had a car accident and was paralysed from the waist down. For Janet and the rest of the family, it was a cruel blow. But through the love the family had for each other, Alex was taken care of by all members of the family. He was brave and took his handicapped condition in his stride and continued to being a pillar of strength and knowledge for his adopted, county's business community.

In spite of all the sadness, Janet was proud of her husband's bravery, and he was an inspiratin to all handicapped people.