Hi, a friend of mine has sent this article to me, which i found worth reading and thought of sharing with you all. Hope you will enjoy reading this.

One Extra Bed Room !!! This is worth reading

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 home sick 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 Mac Donald'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 off and everything must be done within  these 10 days. I got my ticket booked in the cheapest flight. Was jubilant  and was actually enjoying shopping 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 couldn't get any holidays and thus could not go to India. The  next message I got was my parents were 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 were 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 myself 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 a American and my son was happy living in USA.  I decided that I had enough and wound-up every thing and returned to  India.  I had just enough money to buy a decent two bed room 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, dressing sense 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.                      

Life is short so live one day at a time.