As the dream of most parents I had acquired a degree in Software Engineering and joined a company based in USA ,
the land of braves and opportunity.
When I arrived in 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.
RE:NRI - Retirement story - Good one to read
by GN on Jan 09, 2008 12:19 PM Permalink
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.
RE:RE:NRI - Retirement story - Good one to read
by GN on Jan 09, 2008 12:20 PM Permalink
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 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.
RE:RE:RE:NRI - Retirement story - Good one to read
by GN on Jan 09, 2008 12:21 PM Permalink
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...... ......... .!!!
This was a mail i received, which really touched my heart. In many ways reflecting the plea of NRI's
RE:NRI - Retirement story - Good one to read
by Gautam Sinha on Jan 09, 2008 01:21 PM Permalink
For the NRI, if one of the priorities was post retirement care a la Indian style, you should have thought of it before you allocated 100% priority to the dollar at young age. Also one thing the NRI doesnt write the way of life as second grade alien in foreign shore. sab maya hai
RE:NRI - Retirement story - Good one to read
by Sanjay Bhakat on Jan 09, 2008 03:00 PM Permalink
Mate ... the comment above are 100% correct, I am based in Sydney, Australia and before that was in UAE for close to 10 years. Its my personal opnion, if I get a chance to earn atleast 60 to 75% of the money I am earning here ... I shall return to India the next day. Reason's are ... (1) The cost of living with earnings are same with what one can do in India, (2) The time it takes for an average Individual to commute in train from home to work is same ... 1 hour on each side atleast, (3) The trains are as crowded as Mumbai & Delhi, sometimes we cannot board the train because no space to squeeze ourselves into, (4) Here trains also runs late, (5) Here even though an Indian has an Ausralian passport, still one can call you as SCUM and no law is in place to prosecute the abuser, (6) Here people pinches his/her pocket at the end of 10th day of the month, because no money (Salary payment is every 15 days), (7) Here if you are not careful you can be abused, beaten, murdered and mugged as well. Well people might say ... are there no plus points? (1) Yes, its run by Gora's, (2) If a Gora is inefficient still he is your Boss as Manager, (3) Things are organised & big daddy is watching always on Camera's(4) Its less populated. If I am asked by anyone in the forum ... am I ready to come back to India by sacrificing 40% of my salary ... I will say YESS. I have a 2BHK in India on Mortgage being in Australia so is my friend being in Mumbai ... what difference did i make for myself?
RE:NRI - Retirement story - Good one to read
by Kvins on Jan 09, 2008 12:51 PM Permalink
Really Good man . GN .. By the way this should have been published on the rediff page ..
RE:NRI - Retirement story - Good one to read
by Ms. Adya Bharadwaj on Jan 09, 2008 05:55 PM Permalink
Really, a full bright short story of human emotion, social anxiety and prevalent value-system. GN, thank you as your life may serve the best purpose of reminding Indians about their value-systems. It is obvious that GN is not a greedy, unfaithful and hypocrite. Indian god will certainly bless you and your siblings, does not matter where they stay.
RE:NRI - Retirement story - Good one to read
by kavi sir on Jan 09, 2008 04:13 PM Permalink
It is a pitty to be alone after 60 years of age !!! Now-a-days parents also want their son/daughter to work in USA / Dubai etc.after finishing the Engg. education. They feel proud !!??!! From the childhood onwards they nurture these ideas in the young mind - the result both of them suffer at a latter state !!! All NRIs must havea a rethink on this !!!!
