An apartment for an Indian software engineer
This is a provoking letter written about the dreams, aspirations, and life of an Indian software engineer by himself..read on..
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 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 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?’
That’s so sad! Too bad for us, living in this materialistic harsh world. It’s not worth it at all, but we only appreciate what we have after all is gone.
Misinterpretation of the saying “Grass is always green on the other side”(espically if you are motivated by watching TV).
Actually I’ve witnessed similar stories in real life too(which is even more sadder)
We can only try to live our dreams.
But in your case, I thinkI must agree with you; it’s not worth it …
To be honest..! its not sad .. some people dream 2 go n work n states.. not all get this Opportunity .. ur blessed …! bt u should have earned & come bake 2 india.. without marrying and again going 2 states.. no point of talking about the past.. but still be happy.. y r u just bothering about da 2 bedroom & 1 bedroom.. U have got alot of experience than a normal ordinary man.. be happy with that!! Ur a blessed man… be happy with what have u done ..
Its not sad, bt the truth is evry path has a positive and negetive aspect, u just have the right to choose the path and the rest happens as it ws destined to…U Still have an experiance of a lifetime and can njoy the rest of ur life in peace and harmony…. im 23 and thankful to you for sharing ur experiance with all….
God bless!!!
Is this true cos if this man is 60, he must have worked in software companies for the past 35 years atleast and 35 years ago was 1970s? doesnt make sense
lets not get into for negative of the story lets notice wht he going to say even movie v watch is not true nut still v live in tht for 3hours v enjoy . but v have to think about directors point of view wht is the moral of the story is.
but this is the life time experiance.
Really ugly reality of the dream life.
Many plp in Pakistan now a days, think that going abroad for building career is a dream thing in their life, but they dont take their life for whole, they just think that their life is all about job.
Life is much more, you are doing job to facilitate your life. But sometime we mess our life due to small things.
Its a great story, a lesson.
There is always some vacuum on the top!
Means, still space to improve!
Really touchy but time doesn’t remain same!
One should learn from successes & failures also!
Always hope for the best & prepare for the worst!
I think there is BIG learning in above story!
I wish the whole world, best of luck!
There is always some vacuum on the top!
Means, still space to improve!
Really touchy but time doesn’t remain same!
One should learn from successes & failures also!
Always hope for the best & prepare for the worst!
I think there is BIG learning in above story!
I wish the whole world, best of luck!
@Wajahat Abbas - I agree with you. Currently I am living in USA but dont know what’ll happen in future. If you have to live in this kind of uncertain situation so its better to live in your homeland closer to your parents when they need you. I totally agree with you that life is much more than the job. Infact, I would rephrase it like “life is much more than earning MONEY” What the hell we’ll with that money when we’d come to the end of life.
Although its a very touchy story but I dont think so its a true one.
[...] It’s really v. touchy. You must Read it. It will not take more than 5 minutes to read, but may be it will show you the ugly reality of dream life.Click here. [...]
[...] It’s really v. touchy. You must Read it. It will not take more than 5 minutes to read, but may be it will show you the ugly reality of dream life.Click here. [...]
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