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 ........
START LIVING IT .......
LIVE IT AS YOU WANT IT TO BE .......
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The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
Mahatma Gandhi
I don't think there is anything that is possible in one country and is impossible in another.
Each country/culture has few good things and few not so good. It depends on what you absorb and what you reject. It is highly possible that this guy, in your ctlr-C ctrl-V story, would be living almost exactly same life no matter what decision he would have taken in his early age.
Moral of the story: Learn for past incidents. Learn from our and other's mistakes (Hey, isn't this similar to that Chanakya's thoughts? )
Hi Gopal;
Your (some) stories(like this one) are nice.
It will be worthwhile to acclaim the source of ‘your’ write ups. I have read this at least two times before. You may as well want to give the source so as to save your trouble of copying and pasting.
-Ben
When I read thread like somebody's visa is rejected or somebody failed in IELTS and the person is depressed or a person has decided to return back home since he did not get job for past one year, then I can feel the pain and depression they are going through. Then I remember such emails received way back 2 years back and I go and search these mails and post it on canadiandesi. com, so that, these people will read these thread and console their heart that, it is not the end of the world.
I am sorry, you feel I shouldn't waste my time in cut and paste. Please ignore my thread in future and let some people benefit from thread. Even I enjoy reading these emails time and again because am happy go lucky person and love to laugh.
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The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
Mahatma Gandhi
Quote:
Originally posted by gopalpai
When I read thread like somebody's visa is rejected or somebody failed in IELTS and the person is depressed or a person has decided to return back home since he did not get job for past one year, then I can feel the pain and depression they are going through.
'It simply magnifies the problem.'
How? By airing ones views?
Quote:
Originally posted by ranirani
'It simply magnifies the problem.'
How? By airing ones views?
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