~Money is boring...~

“Money is boring” – the word echoed in my ears from a stalwart who is in the US for more than 3 decades and he is a close relative who once had the dream run to make it big in the land of opportunities and to live the ‘American Dream’. Now that he has aged and is expecting an early retirement from the daily chores of his living, he stated this incredible line which made me pay attention to his state of mind.

No wonder many of us still believe in the dichotomy of living in our country – lovingly or not, but still thinking of going abroad for greener pastures – an average Indian honestly thinks so- as there are many follies that decimate our standard of living – be it the social overhead capital or the infrastructure as we call it or the health facilities and love for one country, we know where we stand.

The tables get turned when these are the subject of some foreign land , more so America, then the tide gets turned towards it supremacy and the life it offers to a common man.

Not likely – the gentleman who is the subject of my writing today has had an overwhelming life in worlds strongest nation and one may presume him to live a life of dignity and honour – but not the way it is perceived to be. The gentleman after completing his college education in India tried his luck in higher education in foreign land and was lucky enough to get into a management college in Chicago – and soon landed a job for himself in one of the prestigious management consultancy firm – as further luck shined on him, he was able to find a girl of his choice and soon got married with his parents affirmation – so far so good, then came the most remarkable moment of his life – his separation from his wife, who live with him for just one year and didn’t find him to by her type of husband – so suitable as it was, both got separated but not divorced and since then he has been living a private life full of self-discipline and loneliness.

As he laughingly says “ I only have one thing dear, and that is Money, no love and nothing that I can boast of as a relationship.” – as he is entering septuagenarian age, he is planning to come back and settle in Gurgoan but it seems to be tough as still according to him, the Indian way of life is not his cup of tea.

As I broached the subject of Indian IT doing spectacular business in the world – America being the prime market for it and zillion of IT engineers making it big in the land of opportunities – his only answer was “ they may try their luck in the world of professional relationship but they have to be doubly lucky in their personal life, as for them running after dollars will take them far off from their family and one day the breach would be well enough to be contained…!”

His advice and deep observation of life was well entrenched and pointing to the situation that he himself had faced overseas – the blind love of moolah  certainly took him too far off from his personal choice of love and care, which he might though of taking it for granted, but life did had a certain plan for him for the choice he made.

This profound conversation with him today made me feel a little pity for the man I knew for so long – his love lost story certainly deserved a patient hearing for he must not be having anyone to spare such a time for the man who once came to America with a dreamy eyes and a go getter attitude – but now life has come a full circle for him – and it is only his memories which would be his greatest partner he would ever cherish whilst he lives each day….