Neighbours may have to perform my last rites - Because I aspired for second bedroom

Anil Raina

As the dream of most parents, I had acquired a degree in software engineering and joined a company based in the 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 a place where I wanted to be. I decided I would be staying in that 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 bed-room flat.

I wanted to do something 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 two 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 may have to perform my last rites aspired for second bedroom

within these 10 days. I got my ticket booked in the cheapest flight. I was jubilant and was actually enjoying hopping for gifts for all my friends back home. If I miss anyone 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 two to three days, as I would not get any more holidays. After the marriage, it was time to return to USA, after giving some money to my parents and telling the neighbours to look after them. We returned to the USA.

My wife enjoyed this country for about two months and then she started feeling lonely. The frequency of calling India increased to twice a week; sometimes three times a week. Our savings started minimising. 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 grandchildren.

Every year I decided 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 | got was my parents had passed away and as there was no one to do the last rites the society members had done whatever they could. I was depressed. My parents had passed away without seeing their grandchildren.

After a couple of 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 USA .

My wife refused to come back with me and my children refused to stay in India... My two 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 I had enough and wound up everything and returned to India... I had just enough money to buy a decent two bed-room 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 wonder, 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 if I am all right. Well, at least they remember me. Now perhaps after I die it will be the neighbours again who will be performing my last rites. 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 extra bedroom???

Life is beyond this... Don't just leave your life...

Start living it. Live it as you want it to be.

(The writer, a software engineer, presents a bitter reality).

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Courtesy:- Anil Raina and February 2015 Koshur Samachar