"A Bitter Reality".....WRITTEN BY AN INDIAN SOFTWARE ENGINEER

A MUST READ...

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 2 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 ……!!!

(Excerpt from a post on Faceboook)