Good story and really worth of reading and
I leave the truth of the story to you all.
ONE BEDROOM FLAT... AN INDIAN SOFTWAREENGINEER'S LIFE... -
A Bitter Reality As the dream of most parents I had acquired a degree in Software Engineerand joined a company based in USA, the land of braves and opportunity.WhenI 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 wouldbe 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 something 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'sand 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 photographsof 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 2-3days, as I will not get anymore holidays. After the marriage, it was timeto return to USA, after giving some money to my parents and telling theneighbors to look after them, we returned to USA. My wife enjoyed this country for about two months and then she startedfeeling lonely. The frequency of calling India increased to twice in aweek sometimes 3 times a week. Our savings started diminishing. After twomore years we started to have kids. Two lovely kids, a boy and a girl,weregifted to us by the almighty. Every time I spoke to my parents, they askedme 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 conditionsprevented it. Years went by and visiting India was a distant dream. Thensuddenly one day I got a message that my parents were seriously sick. Itried but I couldn't get any holidays and thus could not go to India. Thenext message I got was my parents had passed away and as there was no oneto 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 andmy wife's joy we returned to India to settle down. I started to look forasuitable property, but to my dismay my savings were short and the propertyprices 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 inIndia. My 2 children and I returned to USA after promising my wife I wouldbe back for good after two years. Time passed by, my daughter decided to get married to an American andmy son was happy living in USA. I decided that had enough and wound-upevery thing and returned to India. I had just enough money to buy a decent 02 bedroomflat in a well-developed locality. Now I am 60 years old and the only time I go out of the flat is for theroutine visit to the nearby temple. My faithful wife has also left me andgone to the holy abode. Sometimes I wondered was it worth all this? My father, even after stayingin 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 damnedcable TV has spoiled our new generation and these children are losing their values and culture because of it. I get occasional cards from my childrenasking I am alright. Well at least they remember me.
Now perhaps after I die it will be the neighbors again who will be performingmy last rights, God Bless them. But the question still remains 'was all this worth it?' I am still searching for an answer................!!!! with warm regards ,
