One Day....

A FLAT.....

WRITTEN BY AN IT ENGG.

Bitter Reality.....

Hello Frndz, I am a software engineer and I did my b.tech at that time when our parents was dreaming that my child will be engineer specially in IT sector as that time IT was on a big boom.

So, As the dream of most parents I had acquired a degree in Software Engineering and joined a company based in USA, the land of opportunities and mainly a place for IT sector. 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 flat.

I wanted to do some thing more than him. As, I was the bright student and grabbed a job in USA but there I saw that brains of people are of next level and I was no where, still was happy that at-least, I have a job there. I started feeling homesick and lonely as the time passed. I used to call home and spoke 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, due to the pressure of family, I decided to get married. Told my parents that I have only 1 month of holiday and everything must be done within this month. I got my ticket booked in the cheapest flight. Was jubilant and was actually enjoying hopping for gifts to all my friends in India nearby my home because all were in a impression that I am coming from foreign and there I am earning a lot in dollars. " Who told them that earning in dollar doesn't mean I am earning a lot" and 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.

So, all things was in rush and I got married, In-laws were very supportive and helpful that they agreed on our proposal of getting married in a short time because I have to go back to USA as I have shortage of leaves. 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.

Initially, all things were in a good shape my wife enjoyed this country for about two months and then she started feeling lonely. Because she was a small town girl and here in USA all are working woman and none of them has a habit of talking unnecessarily. 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 just because of the family pressure, we didn't have any choices So, 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 as my savings were short and the property prices had gone up during all these years. I had to return back 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. Again years and years 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?

"Was it a good idea that 1 day I will buy a decent flat for me and will enjoy my life and by thinking this, I went to USA for the betterment."

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 FLAT and my remaining whole life was gone by thinking about 1 DAY, I will have something......

Looking out from the window I see a lot of children playing. 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. But, they never came to see me, my condition, my health. Well at least, I have that satisfaction in my mind, that they remember me.

Now perhaps after I die it will be the neighbors again who will be performing my last rights, because the cycle is going on children are in USA and no time from company, and so on....

WELL, 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 FLAT ONE DAY???

LIFE IS BEYOND THIS .....DON'T JUST LEAVE YOUR LIFE & PARENTS ........

START LIVING IT .......

LIVE IT AS YOU WANT IT TO BE ....... Because LIFE IS PRECIOUS!!!!

Think over it!!!!!!