Sri Lankan Students

[lankan]

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 h e 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 ever! y 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 neighbor! s 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................!!!!