I don't know how much relevant, but I found it very well.
A story for you to read: "Mriga Trishna"
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 the place where I wanted to be.
I decided I would be staying in this country for about five years, during 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 something more than him.
I started feeling homesick and lonely as 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. I told my parents that I had only 10 days of holidays, and everything must be done within these 10 days. I got my ticket booked on the cheapest flight. I was jubilant and was actually enjoying shopping for gifts for all my friends back home.
If I missed anyone, then there would be talks. After reaching home, I spent one week going through all the photographs of girls, and as the time was getting shorter, I was forced to select one candidate.
The in-laws told me, to my surprise, that I would have to get married in 2-3 days, as I would not get any more holidays. After the marriage, it was time to return to the USA. After giving some money to my parents and telling the neighbors 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 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 could see their grandchildren.
Every year, I decided to go to India. But work and 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 rites, the society members had done whatever they could.
I was depressed. My parents had passed away without seeing their grandchildren.
After a 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 the 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 the 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-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 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 darned 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 alright. Well, at least they remember me.
Now perhaps after I die, it will be the neighbors 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... "Love never bounds us but defines our orbit."
From India, Gurgaon
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3A story for you to read: "Mriga Trishna"
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 the place where I wanted to be.
I decided I would be staying in this country for about five years, during 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 something more than him.
I started feeling homesick and lonely as 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. I told my parents that I had only 10 days of holidays, and everything must be done within these 10 days. I got my ticket booked on the cheapest flight. I was jubilant and was actually enjoying shopping for gifts for all my friends back home.
If I missed anyone, then there would be talks. After reaching home, I spent one week going through all the photographs of girls, and as the time was getting shorter, I was forced to select one candidate.
The in-laws told me, to my surprise, that I would have to get married in 2-3 days, as I would not get any more holidays. After the marriage, it was time to return to the USA. After giving some money to my parents and telling the neighbors 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 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 could see their grandchildren.
Every year, I decided to go to India. But work and 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 rites, the society members had done whatever they could.
I was depressed. My parents had passed away without seeing their grandchildren.
After a 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 the 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 the 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-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 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 darned 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 alright. Well, at least they remember me.
Now perhaps after I die, it will be the neighbors 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... "Love never bounds us but defines our orbit."
From India, Gurgaon
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Mr. Sandeep,
Excellent point, this is not a story but rather a depiction of what is happening in many families. After all, the USA is also one of the countries in the world, focused primarily on money with little regard for values, love, affection, or tradition.
Indians are known for their traditions and ethics, and it is essential that we do not prioritize money over our families.
Regards, Remi
From India, Madras
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Excellent point, this is not a story but rather a depiction of what is happening in many families. After all, the USA is also one of the countries in the world, focused primarily on money with little regard for values, love, affection, or tradition.
Indians are known for their traditions and ethics, and it is essential that we do not prioritize money over our families.
Regards, Remi
From India, Madras
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Hi Sandeep Bahuguna,
Very good topic at present which was much needed for the present generation. Aiming high and achieving good money is commendable, but not at the cost of disappointing your parents or family members.
After reading this story, I hope that at least one person's attitude may change.
Best,
Manikumar
From India, Vijayawada
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Very good topic at present which was much needed for the present generation. Aiming high and achieving good money is commendable, but not at the cost of disappointing your parents or family members.
After reading this story, I hope that at least one person's attitude may change.
Best,
Manikumar
From India, Vijayawada
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Well, I won't say this as a story, but it's a fact, in fact. Most of the people who are leaving India because of good opportunities in other countries don't think about this and don't even try to recognize this fact. This is a hard truth, I will say. Anyway, no matter how many times people try to explain the fact, nobody bothers, and life still goes on.
Hoping for a healthy and wealthy India and Indians. Bye, take care. Regards, from an Indian.
From India
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Hoping for a healthy and wealthy India and Indians. Bye, take care. Regards, from an Indian.
From India
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hi, the story which u wrote has really opened my eyes, actually i too have a great desire to go to abroad n earn a lot. but this story made me think in different angel.
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Very touching indeed. One of my father's friends is also coming back from Scotland where he lived all his life. He wants to die in India. One can only hope with all this so-called economic boom, we become prosperous enough so that nobody has to go abroad. One's own country is one's own country. You are right about the values bit as well.
From India, New Delhi
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From India, New Delhi
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Family Values.ppt
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