Every person those who are far away from their parents for jobs should have to read this heart touching mail!!!
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
IndiaĆ¢€¦ 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 US 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 ..
START LIVING IT .
LIVE IT AS YOU WANT IT TO BE
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