As the dream of most parents I had acquired a degree in SoftwareEngineer and joined a company based in USA, the land of braves andopportunity. When I arrived in the USA, it was as if a dream had cometrue.
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 wouldhave 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 andlonely as the time passed. I used to call home and speak to my parentsevery week using cheap international phone cards. Two years passed, twoyears of Burgers at McDonald's and pizzas and discos and 2 yearswatching the foreign exchange rate getting happy whenever the Rupeevalue went down.
Finally I decided to get married. Told my parents that I have only 10days of holidays and everything must be done within these 10 days. Igot my ticket booked in the cheapest flight. Was jubilant and wasactually enjoying hopping for gifts for all my friends back home. If Imiss anyone then there will be talks. After reaching home I spent homeone week going through all the photographs of girls and as the time wasgetting shorter I was forced to select one candidate.
In-laws told me, to my surprise, that I would have to get married in2-3 days, as I will not get anymore holidays. After the marriage, itwas time to return to USA, after giving some money to my parents andtelling the neighbors 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. Aftertwo more years we started to have kids. Two lovely kids, a boy and agirl, were gifted to us by the almighty. Every time I spoke to myparents, they asked me to come to India so that they can see theirgrand-children.
Every year I decide to go to India. But part work part monetaryconditions prevented it. Years went by and visiting India was a distantdream. Then suddenly one day I got a message that my parents wereseriously sick. I tried but I couldn't get any holidays and thus couldnot go to India. The next message I got was my parents had passed awayand as there was no one to do the last rights. The society members haddone whatever they could. I was depressed. My parents had passed awaywithout 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 lookfor a suitable property, but to my dismay my savings were short and theproperty prices had gone up during all these years. I had to return tothe 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 thatI would be 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 adecent 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 theroutine visit to the nearby temple. My faithful wife has also left meand gone to the holy abode.
Sometimes I wondered was it worth all this? My father, even afterstaying in India, had a house to his name and I too have the samenothing more.
I lost my parents and children for just ONE EXTRA BEDROOM.
Looking out from the window I see a lot of children dancing. Thisdamned cable TV has spoiled our new generation and these children arelosing their values and culture because of it. I get occasional cardsfrom 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 beperforming my last rights, God Bless them. But the question stillremains 'Was all this worth it?'
I am still searching for an answer...... ......... .!!!!
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