ONE BEDROOM FLAT… AN INDIAN SOFTWARE ENGINEER’S
LIFE… - A Bitter Reality As
the dream of most parents I had acquired a degree in Software Engineer
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…………….!!!! — By an Indian Software Engineer who was in US