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 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 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……………..!!!

Student: Google is a Girl…..because it won’t let you complete the whole sentence and start guessing, suggesting…

and you ask only one question…but get hundreds of irrelevant answers in seconds…

Wahe Prabhi, Ajab teri leela hai

Chuha billi se darta hai

Billi kutte se darti hai

Kutta aadmi se darta hai

Aadmi biwi se darta hai

Aur biwi….

Aur Biwi Kutte se darti hai…..

Beech adhar atke rahe…

Na Hyderabad ku bhula sake
Na Amrica ku apna sake
Hyderabadi-Amrican ban’ke kaam chalate rahe

Na Urdu ku chod sake
Na Angrezi ku pakad sake
Desi accent mein goron ku confuse karte chale

Na Turkey ku paka sake
Na gravy bana sake
Murgi ku dam de ke thanksgiving manate chale

Na Christmas tree laga sake
Na bacchon ku samjha sake
Eid par Santa banke tohfe bat-te chale

Na shorts pahen sake
Na shalwar chod sake
Jeans pe kurta aur sneakers chadake itraate chale

Na, Nashte mein donut kha sake
Na khichdi khatta  bhula sake
Pizza par mirchi chidakkar maza lete rahe

Na garmiyon ku bhula sake 
Na baraf ku apna sake
Khidke se suraj ku dekhke ‘beautiful day’ kahte rahe

Ab ayi baari Hyderabad ku jane ki……toh..
Haath mein paani ka sheesha lekar chale

Lekin wahan par…

Na gupchup kha sake
Na lassi pee sake
Peth ke darad se tadapte mare…
Gullathi kha ke kaam chalate rahe..

Na macchar se bhaag sake
Na khujli ku rok sake
Cream se dadodon ku chupate chale

Na fakiron se bach sake 
Na dollar ku chupa sake
Naukaron se bi peecha chuda kar bhaagte rahe…

Na khuddi par baith sake
Na Kamot ku bhool sake
Bas beech adhar jhukke kaam chalate rahe….

Na idhar ke rahe…
Na udhar ke rahe…
Kambaqt, kahin ke Na rahe

Bas ‘ABCD’ aulaad ko aur confuse banate chale…

By Reshma Ghouri