One bedroom flat...
Written by an expatriate engineer resident in USA.
As the dream of most parents I had acquired a degree in Engineering and joined a company based in USA , the land of opportunities. 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 always wanted 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 back home in Pakistan. 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, hoping for gifts for all my friends back home. If I miss anyone then there will be murmurs. After reaching home I spent one week at home going through all the photographs of girls (prospective brides) collected by parents and as the time was getting shorter I was forced to select one from them as my bride.
The 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 Pakistan 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 Pakistan so that they can see their grand-children.
Every year I decide to go to Pakistan. But part work part monetary conditions prevented it. Years went by and visiting Pakistan 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 Pakistan. 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 Pakistan 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 Pakistan. 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 I had had enough and wound-up every thing and returned to Pakistan. 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 mosque. My faithful wife has also left me and gone to her heavenly abode.
Sometimes, I wonder was it worth all this? My father, even after staying in Pakistan, 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 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 rights and informing my children, God Bless them. But the question still remains “was all this worth it?” I am still searching for an answer!!!
IS IT JUST FOR ONE EXTRA BEDROOM ???
Written by an expatriate engineer resident in USA.
As the dream of most parents I had acquired a degree in Engineering and joined a company based in USA , the land of opportunities. 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 always wanted 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 back home in Pakistan. 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, hoping for gifts for all my friends back home. If I miss anyone then there will be murmurs. After reaching home I spent one week at home going through all the photographs of girls (prospective brides) collected by parents and as the time was getting shorter I was forced to select one from them as my bride.
The 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 Pakistan 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 Pakistan so that they can see their grand-children.
Every year I decide to go to Pakistan. But part work part monetary conditions prevented it. Years went by and visiting Pakistan 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 Pakistan. 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 Pakistan 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 Pakistan. 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 I had had enough and wound-up every thing and returned to Pakistan. 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 mosque. My faithful wife has also left me and gone to her heavenly abode.
Sometimes, I wonder was it worth all this? My father, even after staying in Pakistan, 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 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 rights and informing my children, God Bless them. But the question still remains “was all this worth it?” I am still searching for an answer!!!
IS IT JUST FOR ONE EXTRA BEDROOM ???
