ONE BEDROOM FLAT…
WRITTEN BY AN INDIAN
SOFTWARE ENGINEER..
A Bitter Reality
… As the dream of most
parents I had acquired a degree in Software Engineering and joined a company
based in USA, the land of braves and opportunity. When I arrived in the USA, it
was as if a dream had come true.
Here at last I was in
the place where I want to be. I decided I would be staying in this country for
about Five years in which time I would have earned enough money to settle down
in India.
My father was a
government employee and after his retirement, the only asset he could acquire
was a decent one bedroom flat.
I wanted to do some
thing more than him. I started feeling homesick and lonely as the time passed.
I used to call home and speak to my parents every week using cheap
international phone cards. Two years passed, two years of Burgers at McDonald’s
and pizzas and discos and 2 years watching the foreign exchange rate getting
happy whenever the Rupee value went down.
Finally I decided to
get married. Told my parents that I have only 10 days of holidays and
everything must be done within these 10 days. I got my ticket booked in the
cheapest flight. Was jubilant and was actually enjoying hopping for gifts for
all my friends back home. If I miss anyone then there will be talks. After
reaching home I spent home one week going through all the photographs of girls
and as the time was getting shorter I was forced to select one candidate.
In-laws told me, to my
surprise, that I would have to get married in 2-3 days, as I will not get
anymore holidays. After the marriage, it was time to return to USA, after
giving some money to my parents and telling the neighbors to look after them,
we returned to USA.
My wife enjoyed this
country for about two months and then she started feeling lonely. The frequency
of calling India increased to twice in a week sometimes 3 times a week. Our
savings started diminishing.
After two more years we
started to have kids. Two lovely kids, a boy and a girl, were gifted to us by
the almighty. Every time I spoke to my parents, they asked me to come to India
so that they can see their grand-children.
Every year I decide to
go to India… But part work part monetary conditions prevented it. Years went by
and visiting India was a distant dream. Then suddenly one day I got a message
that my parents were seriously sick. I tried but I couldn’t get any holidays
and thus could not go to India … The next message I got was my parents had passed
away and as there was no one to do the last rights the society members had done
whatever they could. I was depressed. My parents had passed away without seeing
their grand children.
After couple more years
passed away, much to my children’s dislike and my wife’s joy we returned to
India to settle down.I started to look for a suitable property, but to my
dismay my savings were short and the property prices had gone up during all
these years. I had to return to the USA…
My wife refused to come
back with me and my children refused to stay in India… My 2 children and I
returned to USA after promising my wife I would be back for good after two
years.
Time passed by, my
daughter decided to get married to an American and my son was happy living in
USA… I decided that had enough and wound-up every thing and returned to India…I
had just enough money to buy a decent 02 bedroom flat in a well-developed
locality.
Now I am 60 years old
and the only time I go out of the flat is for the routine visit to the nearby temple.
My faithful wife has also left me and gone to the holy abode.
Sometimes I wondered
was it worth all this?
My father, even after
staying in India, had a house to his name and I too have the same nothing more.
I lost my parents and
children for just ONE EXTRA BEDROOM.
Looking out from the
window I see a lot of children dancing. This damned cable TV has spoiled our
new generation and these children are losing their values and culture because
of it. I get occasional cards from my children asking I am alright. Well at
least they remember me.Now perhaps after I die it will be the neighbors again
who will be performing my last rights, God Bless them.
But the question still
remains ‘was all this worth it?’
I am still searching
for an answer……………..!!!
START THINKING
IS IT JUST FOR ONE
EXTRA BEDROOM???
LIFE IS BEYOND THIS
…..DON’T JUST LEAVE YOUR LIFE & PARENTS. . .
START LIVING IT. . .
LIVE IT AS YOU WANT IT
TO BE. . . BECAUSE LIFE IS PRECIOUS!!!!
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