Fwd: Just for A FLAT WITH ONE MORE BEDROOM

[sriram santhanam]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: m...@sanmargroup.com <m...@sanmargroup.com >
Date: Jul 17, 2006 4:53 PM
Subject: Just for A  FLAT WITH ONE MORE BEDROOM
To:








      Might be repeated. But good enough for a review...


            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 Indiaincreased
            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................!!!!

            By an Indian SE who was in US.












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