One Bedroom Flat

[Mehtab Singh]

ONE BEDROOM FLAT...

WRITTEN BY AN INDIAN ENGINEER...

As the dream of most parents I had acquired a degree in Engineering 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 I told, to their 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 holiday 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 ritual, 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 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 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.................!!!

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

[Super_Singhni]

Is the moral of the story live your life as your want it to be or rather acknowledge what you have in the present and make the most of it (i.e. his parents, family rather than seeking out money and wanting more than his father had). Its so difficult to be mindful of what you have and not be so future orientated, I suppose thats where Bani and SImran help a great deal.

Sad story.

[Wingz23]

thats the problem these days.. questions occour such as do you WANT it... or do you NEED it!?!? moslty it turns out to be the want... Gud story singhni

[Singh559]

Heart crushing read.

[hsisingh]

I think the flat is poorly decorated - no proper coordination of colours, fabrics and furnishings.. for example, when he has visitors does everyone sit on the two sofas in a line along one wall - craning their necks to talk to each other??

[Wingz23]

hsisindh, thats actualyl tue.. they cud cit on the floor :O

[VanHelsingh]

This is exactly the realisation I'm coming to in my life. I, God willing, still have time to make a change. This poor man has been left ruing his luck.

[Harpreet1]

everyone has time to make a change. Even he could pack his bags to be with his family in the USA and leave the 2 bedroom flat he worked so hard for - its about letting go of some things to get what you really need and that is family - children

[singher23]

So he was hired by a firm in America straight from India, chosen from many people, with a job as an engineer, someone who makes pretty decent money, and yet makes what seems like minimum wage? This story reeks of b.s