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There once lived a happy family in a house called Jyoti. Although Jyoti was a small house in an urban area, it had people with so much room in their heart. The family consisted of Aradhna, Balram, Yadna, Surendra, Gaurav, Arti and Sunita. They were an average family of India. Aradhna was the grand mother of the house. Her husband, Sham, had built the house with all of his life savings, but unfortunately he never had the opportunity to live in the house because he died of heart attack during the formation of Jyoti. He named it Jyoti after the name of his mother. But the strong Aradhna never lost her faith and completed Jyoti from the help of her brother in law, Ram. Balram was the only son of Aradhna. Aradhna also had two daughters, Sumita & Devika, they were married and were living in America. Sumita and Devika had filed for Balram to come to America many years ago. But everybody had forgotten about it because it had been many years and his arrival seemed impossible. Balram was a telecomm engineer who was working for an average income. He was a man of strength with good heart and a practical kind of person. He did not show that he is interested in god, but had faith. He was a person who didn’t like to show himself to the world, he always kept every pain to himself and showed as if he never had any problems. He was married to Yadna. Yadna was a woman who liked to worship Shiva. She had to leave all the statues of Shiva behind because Balram was more of a practical man. He didn’t want his wife to do anything against his will. Yadna was an ideal Indian wife. She always did everything according to Balram. Balram would sometimes get very violent if Yadna would do something against his will. Balram was a simple man. He didn’t enjoy things like watching tv, going to movies and going out for dinner. Yadna was actually able to count the times Balram and Yadna had gone out to see movies and dinner in 25 years of their marriage. From their marriage they had four children, Surendra, Gaurav, Arti and Sunita. The eldest was Surendra, who was 24 years old. Then their second child was Sunita, who was 21 years old. Third child was Arti, who was 19. Their last and most favorite child was Gaurav, who was 17. Gaurav was loved by everyone because he the youngest. Aradhna loved Gaurav even more than she loved her own son, Balram. The life of this family was better than of those who live in a big mansion. The love in this family was no where else to be seen. Every thing was going as it should be. Surendra was still studying to be a doctor. Sunita was still trying to find her destiny in college. Arti had just finished school and going to college to follow her brother Surendra as a doctor. Gaurav was still in school and having hard time passing his class. He was spoiled by everyone in his family. He barely passed every class in his past. Everyone else in the family was so smart that no body had any expectation for him. Surendra wanted his brother to enjoy everything that Surendra missed during his young age. Surendra only studied all his life. Sunita was an average student. She never had any problem passing all her classes. There was no problem with Arti because she was so smart that she always came 1st or second in her class. One day the family living in Jyoti receive a call from Sumita and Devika. They give them a good news that Balram’s number has arrived. He is able to come to America with his family. Balram was very happy and very sad at the same time. He didn’t want to leave his mother, Aradhna, in India by herself. But he had a plan in his mind. He was expecting a better life than India. The picture of America was written in his mind through the views described by TV and movies. The view of America was described as tall building, cars, better looking people, Educated people and most of all he will get to see his sisters who never made a trip back to India. He was so sure that the life in America will be a life living in Heaven. He believed that his average income will not satisfy the needs of his children. He also wanted to provide his children with a better environment of living than was at that rural part of India. So much pollution and the attitude of people and encouraged him to answer the call from Sumita and Devika. Aradhna was very happy for Balram. She wanted happiness for her son and grandchildren. She always encouraged Balram in doing everything, so she encouraged him to go to America. She said that Balram could call her there or he could make trips back to India as soon as he settles in America. Aradhna never showed how bad she was feeling. She never showed that she would be alone without her family. Her only will was to see her children as successful as they can possibly be. Yadna didn’t want to leave her mother in law but could do anything in front of her husband’s will. Her mother in law was more like her own mother. She never felt the need of her own mother because Aradhna provided Yadna with care and love that only a mother could provide. Yadna’s heart was not willing to leave Aradhna but she had to do everything as said by Balram. All of the grandchildren had dreams of going to America. They felt that they have a better future in America than in India. Up to some point they were correct. America was a better place to live but they didn’t know what America really looks like. Well then Balram started the process of coming to United States. Later he found out that his first two children weren’t eligible to come to United states because of their age. Any person over or of age 21 was not allowed to come with the parents. Then Balram thought about canceling their trip to United States. Then Aradhna gave him advise. She said that her first two kids have already began their career. It would be good to let them stay here and finish their education. After many requests from Aradhna, Balram finally decided to go to America. He plans to call Surendra, Sunita and Aradhna together once he settles in America. Balram sold the property given by his grandfather to arrange money for the flight. There was a mixed feelings inside everyone. They were happy, at the same time sad for the distance it will create. Finally the day came when Balram will leave with Yadna and his kids (Gaurav and Arti) to America. There was a moment full of emotions at the airport. Aradhna was telling her grandchildren from home to write her as soon as they reach America. Gaurav and Arti couldn’t hide their emotions either, they cried for their grandmother’s shadow. They held each other’s hand until Balram heard the announcement on the speakers. Balram, Yadna, Gaurav and Arti gave Aradhna, Surendra, Sunita their last hug. And tears came from eyes as they went in two different directions. Aradhna, Surendra, and Sunita left the airport as Balram and his family went inside. Gaurav and Arti were still crying but Balram and Yadna tried to comfort them. They told them that they will come back if they didn’t like America. This was the first time they ever went on an Airplane. The airhostess was a blond woman, who welcomed them with a big smile. This was the first time they encountered a white person. They looked at her very strangely but passed on so that people won’t know its their first time. The plane was so huge and so neat. They found a seat and everybody sat together. Gaurav and Arti were still feeling a little sad, but Balram said it again that they will come back if they don’t like America. As the plane lifted off Indian Land, everybody said their last goodbyes to India and their family. They landed in San Francisco. Their first impression was full of surprise. It turned out to be much better than what they expected. They saw bridges overlapping other bridges. They also saw cars that were like ants on the road. So many cars driving properly in their own lanes. There is no chaos, every body is going in orderly manners. The roads are so clean that its hard to even find one dirty spot. Mountains and tall buildings surrounded the airport. It almost looked as a scene from movies. There was little bit of happiness seen on everybody. Balram saw his sisters, who were looking at them from a window. After all the required work done, Balram finally got to see his sisters. These sisters didn’t bring their husbands with them. Finally, Balram and his family got to sit in a car for the first time. Everything was amazing and fun for Balram and family. On the drive every body fell asleep, except Sumita and Devika because in India it would be night time. The drive took almost 2 hours. They were complete away from the Airport area. Now they were in a country area. In this area there were so many fields of corn and mustard. There was no sign of Tall buildings nor any mountains. Balram, Yadna, gaurav and Arti finally got up when they reached their small house which looked like a cottage. Everyone was feeling tired and they went to bed as soon as they were welcomed by Devika’s husband: John and Sumita’s husband: Mark. John and Mark weren’t their real names. John’s real name was Jagdish and Marks real name was Mohar Singh. Next day, everybody was fresh. Balram and his family adjusted to this new time. Sumita and Devika lived together because it was cheap for them to live together. Also there were no indian’s in this area. John and Mark worked in a factory near by. Their work was to put tools in a box and wrap it. They were paid good enough to support their family. Balram said that he would like to find job in his field of telecommunication. When Yadna didn’t say anything, Sumita and Devika said that she will have to support her husband like they do. She will need to work in the fields like Sumita and Devika to support her family. Arti and Gaurav were also told to work in a near by fast food store. Sumita and Devika told Balram that it would be very expensive for them to support his family. So they should try to find a job as fast as possible. So on the second day of being in America, Balram’s family go looking for job. Yadna was offered job before anybody because of Sumita and Devika’s links with field owner. Gaurav and Arti filled out job applications too. Balram looked in paper for job openings in telecommunication. After one month, everybody has a job except Balram himself. He says that in India he was the one feeding everyone but here his family is supporting him. Mark and John offered him to work with them in the factory but Balram says that his education must not go in waste. He has contacted many telecommunication companies but they are not responding back. After two months, Balram was still unemployed and felt ashamed. He didn’t get a job because he would have to study everything again in America and get the degree here. So after many hard attempts, he gives up. He didn’t want to loose respect from the family. He asked about working in the factory, but they had already hired someone else. Now he had no where to go. He was sad and missed his mom a little. He tells Sumita and Devika that he needs a job. He doesn’t want to sit while his family work. So Sumita and Devika get him a job at the farm. He get the job of putting some fluid on the plants in the farm. Even though he heart didn’t want to do that work, he had to do it to support his family. All his education went in gutter. After four months, he calls back to India. He learns that Aradhna is very sick. Surendra tells him that he can’t bare his parents working in a farm. He tells them after a two more months, he will become a doctor. Sunita has stopped going to college because she feels the absence of her family. Surendra tells them that after a few months he will find a job and will send them money so that they don’t have to work. Balram told Surendra that they have to pay for everything and only if they work together, they can pay all the bills. And Indian currency is worth very little in front of American money so the money he will send will be worth nothing. He tells him that Gaurav has graduated from highschool and he also works and Arti is working too. After a few months they will buy or rent a house away from Sumita and Devika because they don’t want them to feel any worried about their expenses. After a while we will be happy and Surendra, Sunita and Aradhna will come to United States. Surendra says goodbye and so does Balram. Its been five months and every body is tired and sad. Gaurav and Arti don’t have enough money to go to college. Gaurav says that he doesn’t like America and he wants to go back. He reminded his father of the words he said at the airport. Arti also supports Gaurav. Balram has no answer, because he doesn’t have any money to buy tickets to leave back to India. Yadna told her children that they should support their father instead of making everything worse. Yadna says that they should be happy that they are living in America because hardly anybody gets a chance to live here. After intelligent words from Yadna, Gaurav and Arti stopped. Balram understood that they have to work really hard to keep up with this fast moving country. Since there is no bus in the area, Balram and family had trouble in transportation. So with 2 thousand dollars of saving, they bought a “working car”. Balram bought his first car. There was happiness in the family. Sumita and Devika helped Balram find a small house for himself. Balram rented the house so that the family could live without any restrictions. Balram called India to tell them about their first step towards success. He learns that Aradhna is getting very sick. Surendra got his degree. And Sunita is still doing nothing but staying home. Balram tells Surendra to put Aradhna in a hospital. He told him that he has made enough money so that one person can come to India, but he will keep it in safe so that if anything happens he can come back soon. Gaurav was missing his grandma too much these days because she has been sick lately. One day when Balram came from his work, he gets a call from India. It was a call from Surendra, he said that Aradhna is very very sick today. He couldn’t breathe for a few moments. He tells Balram to come with the whole family back to India because this could be her last moments. Balram shocked with fear of loosing his mother tells everybody to start packing, while he will go collect money. He puts everything in the name of Sumita and Devika and asks for money from them. Because Sumita and Devika can’t leave their jobs but love their mother, they buy four tickets back to India. This process took about 4 days. Balram gave everything he had to Sumita and Devika to fulfill the losses for the tickets. Now they got the ticket to the flight on Sunday morning. Today was Saturday night. He calls back to India to check if Aradhna is still doing ok. But Surendra tells him that Aradhna has only a few days in her hands. Sunita is trying to take good care of her but she can’t fulfill for her father and mother and brother and sister. Aradhna’s situation is getting worse because she is missing her family. There was too much silence in her life after she lost her loved ones. Surendra tells Balram to come as quick as possible. Next morning Balram and family come to the airport with Sumita, Devika, John and Mark. Yadna tells Sumita and devika that she really appreciated everything they had done for them. It was their dream to come to United states. Its very unfortunate that they have to go back to India but it is needed. Balram and family remember their first day in America. They also remember all the things that they had to do here that they never did in their life. Balram had tears in his eyes for not being able to accomplish a dream of living in America with his whole family. Gaurav and Arti were feeling better because they finally got some rest from work and they will meet their grandma, whom they love too much. Finally Balram and family got on the airplane and got ready to meet their loved ones in India. Everybody looked at America for the last time through the window and said goodbye. They landed on Indian land at night time. Everything was so cold that vapor came out of mouth. They only saw Surendra and Sunita at the airport. Balram told them that why did they leave Aradhna alone. Tears came out of Surendra and Sunita as they hugged their family. Balram asks questions to Surendra and Sunita but their silence told them everything. Aradhna was no longer around them. Balram and Yadna dropped all the luggage and nothing came out of their mouth. Their mouth was open and their eyes saying everything. Gaurav and Arti couldn’t stop their cry to they cried at the airport. They finally reach Jyoti. There was nobody outside but he saw a lot of foot wears outside. The door of Jyoti was closed and nothing could be seen inside. Surendra and Sunita open the door and they see people from the neighbor crying in front of their mother’s dead body. Balram couldn’t stop his feet going towards his mother. He cried like he never cried. He says that he only left to another country but his mother left to another world. Gaurav goes to his grandma’s feet and takes last blessings and follows him, Arti. They take her body to the shamshan ghat. And Balram gives freedom to his mothers soul. After returning to Jyoti. He curses at America. He says that America broke all his dreams. It only gave him sorrow and sadness. He didn’t get anything from America, he only lost everything. And Aradhna is the last thing that America would take from him. He gets his retirement from Telecommunication job. His son starts to work. Sunita gets married and so does Arti. And Balram changes the name of their sacred house to Aradhna from Jyoti. Aradhna blessed the house from there after….. |
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