The Story of an Indian Software Engineer-Must Read

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 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 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 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 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 2 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?'



-The
story of an Indian Software Engineer