Chin Govender, the favoured son of Cato Manor, returns home to his estranged family in the late 1940s, after too many years away, bringing with him an astounding tale that spans the physical and political landscape of South Africa and chronicles his exploits from penniless wine steward in East London to successful hotelier in Cape Town's District Six. The story of Chin's family is blended into the rich cultural tapestry of Indian life and the intricacies of close families and communities that from the backdrop of this complex tale.