Away from Home...
Every person those who r 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 Indiaso 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
Indiawas 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 Indiato 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 USAafter
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.................!!!
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
We are human beings and there are a lot which are beyond our imagination and control. Luck is not same for all as it varies from person to person. You will see a lot of people going abroad and earning a lot but there are still the other part who goes abroad and loose everything. I do understand your situation but I can not agree to the fact that you left your parents in the hands of almighty as it was your responsibility to look after them and keep them happy at least in the last days of their life and they were not blessed atleast to kiss their grand children from their only son, you.
are you looking for some answer?
THANKS
WE DO RESPIKED OTHERS
Yeah...agreed with colt45, posting in main forum would have been more appropriate to get some replies.
Anyways...Thanks for sharing that mail. Moving abroad is always a risk...some would make a real fortune of it...some would lose everything...that the irony of life.
"I respect people for who they are and what they do,"
This is what i read in ur profile.....
Practice what u preach....
Yeh and so why did you post it in the Questions for? You expect answers?