IMMIGRANT’S FAMILY NEXUS

Sunil and Mona migrated to USA for more than two decades ago from his home town Kolkata. Sunil’s parents were school teachers by profession. Sunil’s parents were happily living in their ancestral house which was built by Sunil’s grandfather. It is a two-story house having enough space for all of them living together. Sunil has one brother and one sister. When Sunil moved to USA his parents and brother Anil were living together in the same house with his wife Kamala. Sunil has one brother and one sister. Sunil’s sister Soma was married and she was living with her husband in a nearby neighborhood in the same city. Sunil’s family was well known in the area because their family was well educated and two of his siblings, his brother an Engineer and sister had a Ph D degree in Chemistry. Nikhil, Sunil’s father and mother Bina were very proud of their children. Everybody will be very happy and proud to have well- educated children like them. Sunil was a Medical Graduate who emigrated to USA. Any family will envy the success and achievements of this family. Nikhil was a High School Teacher all his life and his wife was also a Primary School Teacher. Both of Sunil’s parents were retired and their lives were going on the meagre income from the pension. Although their children were all earning good money, they would never accept any money from their children. However, Sunil would give his salary every month to his mother and take for his travel and pocket expenses from his mother. Rest of the money was going to a Bank Account which was set up in Sunil’s name in a local Bank. Anil never contributed anything to the family, on the other hand he would occasionally borrow money from his mother and never return that money. For any family needs he would always say – Ma, I do not have money, ask Sunil. He was really a very selfish person. Sometimes Sunil’s mother would be frustrated with Anil’s selfishness and tell her husband – Anil is so cheapskate, I am afraid, he will treat his wife bad and their family life might become very unhappy for his selfishness and tightwad character.

Brother, Anil is an Engineer and works for the State Government, and his sister, is a lecturer in a local college. Sister, Soma is married and lives with her husband, she hardly visits her parents, she is always afraid that her parents may ask her for money, so she took the policy of avoiding altogether, although she lived in the same town, she did not see her parents for last two years. Nikhil and Bina always missed their daughter, sometimes they would tell one another how their daughter became so careless about her own parents, may be, she has no love for her parents. Their feelings were hurt by Soma’s indifference towards them but they never spoke to her about it. Once Bina mentioned it to her daughter Soma – Why you don’t want to come to visit your parents? Your father and I miss you a lot. Tell us what we can do so that you visit us frequently and we get to see our daughter more.

Soma said – Mom, nothing you can do, I shall visit you when I feel like to visit, please do not force me into things, I do not like, then I shall stop to come here altogether. She threatened. Besides, what do you care about me? Whenever I want something from you, you always say -no, and you want to save everything for my brothers. She was very rude to speak to her mother. Besides, I know, that you love my brothers more than me. Anil and Sunil are apple of your eyes, she expressed her cantankerous attitude. She threw a tantrum and annoying words to her mother.

Bina listened to Soma and said – it is not true, I have always treated all my children equally, on the other hand I have given more of my ornaments to you rather what I kept for my daughters-in-law. Instead of complaining, you should be happy with what you got from me.

Bina was very hurt by her daughter’s comments. Her heart became touchy and sad, since then she never mentioned her daughter to her husband. Since then, the relation between mother and daughter never ameliorated, Soma’s meanness and greed hurt Bina but she could not do anything but to cry alone and feel the pain in her bosom. Sometimes Bina realizes that Soma and Anil are very selfish and greedy, their avarice disembogue a very deep and painful feeling in her. Although she felt very disappointed about these two kid’s upbringings but she had none but to blame herself for this failure. She did not share this pain with her husband either. Eventually she made herself the ultimate responsible person for Anil’s and Soma’s misbehavior. At the end she accepted this as her failure and fate.

Anil, an Engineer by profession was working for the Government in a high position. He was responsible for building roads in the area, every feet of road were always being built under his supervision. Corrupt contractors would pay him bribes and use under quality and under quantity of materials and as a result, the road would break apart soon after the construction was finished. He was always more friendly to the contractors who were cheating the Government with low quality of materials and often overlooked any wrong doings by these dishonest business men. A few years back Anil was in trouble when the villagers complained against the construction of the road with low grade materials to his boss because he was the head Engineer who was looking after that project, he did not pay any attention to this matter and then the villagers went to higher authorities and lodged a complaint against Anil. The Authorities were not too happy with Anil’s supervising activities because he always seemed not to care for the correct composition of the building materials, and did not care about the quality of the road which was being built. The Authorities could not ignore the powerful ruckus created by the villagers and then they formed a Committee of three Members and started the investigation against Anil. As the investigation went deeper and deeper, Anil started to get nervous because he knew he did not follow the department’s guidelines and favored the Contractors who were cheating the Government and the Villagers as well. At this point Anil realized that he needs some serious legal help and money to get this help. He knew – his financial needs could be met by his brother who lived in America. So, he made a plan to borrow money from his brother. But he knew that his brother will not lend him the money unless his parents ask for it from his brother, Sunil. So, one day during the dinner he told – Ma and Baba, I am in a big trouble in my office, they are investigating me for negligence, accepting bribe and fraud, I have to have a lawyer to fight the allegations, I am innocent but I have to prove it to the Investigating Committee. I need money for the lawyer. Ma, when you speak to Sunil, please ask him to send me one lakh of rupees, I shall pay him back as soon as this investigation is over. Ma, please help me in this situation. If I cannot take the lawyer, I may lose my job and my life will be destroyed.

Anil’s parents heard Anil’s pleas and then his mother said – We tried to teach you the strength of honesty and truthfulness when you were young but you decided to take the path of greed and dishonesty, now you are begging for help, tell me – how I am going to ask Sunil that your brother is in trouble for accepting bribes and now he needs to borrow money from you to fight the case against him, honestly I will not ask him for any money, your greed created the mess, you do whatever you need to do, besides you did not pay any money back which you borrowed last time, I cannot support a dishonest son for his misdeeds. Sunil is in a different country, he is working very hard, I cannot put pressure on him for money, if he needs money for some reason over there who would help him? I cannot put one son in problem to solve the other son’s problem. By the by, do you remember how many times you have borrowed money from him? Have you ever paid any of it back? I know – you did not. However, you are our child, we should try to help you in this situation, so, I am giving you these two bangles of mine, you sell them and get the money. Please don’t ask me to request Sunil to lend you money. Her voice was very sad in despair, her eyes became watery, she felt that as parents they could not do a good job, they raised a selfish and dishonest child. She wiped her eyes with the edge of her Sari. Then she took off her bangles from her arms and gave them to Anil.

As shameless as he is, Anil took the bangles and said – Baba, this is not going to be enough for my needs, can you please lend money from your pension from next month, and from now on two of you have your food jointly with us. Then he looked at his wife and said – what you think, Kamala?

Kamala said – do, whatever you want, don’t bring me into it. Her voice was hot, angry and bitter like an infusion of Chirata.

Anil’s father replied – okay, I shall give money for next six months from my pension, however we are not accepting your offer for the food. We shall maintain our separate arrangement as it is now. If I give you money, I know, it will be difficult for us but we shall try to help you. Remember, this is the last time we will stand by you, from now on try to take the responsibility of your own action.

Since then, Anil’s parents were struggling to maintain their daily lives with the reduced income from their pensions.

But Anil knew deep down his heart that he had played nasty game with his parents because he really did not need any money because he had enough money which he earned by dishonest means; he simply did not want to touch this ill received money from bribes. Once again, he cheated his parents and did not feel bad in his conscience. He believes only in one thing, bilking money, once he gets it, he is all happy and content, morality or conscience has no value to him.

In USA, a few months later in the winter Sunil and Mona were sitting in their living room and looking at the woods of the aphyllous trees which were covered with snow and looked like big rows of downside up chandeliers hanging from the sky, as far as they could see all was covered with all white rows of trees and land covered with milky white bed spread of snow, morning for them was quite serene and tranquility took over their mind with the beauty of nature. They were looking at one another with love and affection in their eyes but their moments were interrupted by a phone call from his medical school classmate and friend Ajay. Ajay said to Sunil – How are you? Did you speak to your parents lately? Since I had to go to the town, I went to your house to visit your parents. I did not feel good looking at uncle and auntie. I have always been blessed with your parents’ love and affection; they were always very happy to see me. They were happy to see me but I was not happy to see them because their health conditions were not good. Auntie was complaining about her knee pain and uncle’s eye glass frame was tied with a thread with one of the handles; one of the eye glasses had a crack on it. It seemed to me that they need more caring, I hope, your brother is giving the necessary care which they need and deserve at this elderly age.

When Ajay stopped his words, Sunil told – Ajay, I send money every month to my Dada so that my parents get whatever they need, besides, my father and mother both get their pensions. Anyway, thanks for letting me the conditions of my parents, soon I shall do whatever needs to be done, I am coming home very soon, I shall let you know when I am coming home. Saying this he said – good bye to his long- time friend and put down the phone. His wife, Mona, was sitting next to Sunil and heard the whole conversation between Sunil and Ajay. She said to Sunil – let us go home immediately and find out why Ajay was complaining about the conditions of mom and dad. Sunil agreed with her and said – first thing tomorrow, I shall take the leave for a month from the hospital and buy the plane tickets for both of us. In the meantime, please inform your parents to clean our apartment and please ask them, not to tell my family that we are coming. I want to surprise them and find out the actual situation in my family, what my brother is doing to our parents. Mona said – you are right, I shall do it and arrange for leaving next week for India. Sunil started to think that since he migrated to America, he always sent money for his parents so that they can live a very good life. He also understands that most of the immigrants like him have a big problem because when they send the money for their dear ones, they have no control of whatsoever what the recipient of the money is doing on the other end. He might inform the parents that he received money from Sunil or he may just keep quiet about it and parents will never know that their son Sunil sent the money for them. This often becomes a problem for every immigrant who cares for their family which they have left behind, he remembered, his friend Rajib sent money to his elder brother to buy a piece of land in his father’s name, but his brother bought the land in his wife’s name instead, when Rajib asked his brother- why did you do this? His answer was very simple – I did it because my wife could get a loan to build the house because the it is in her name. Rajib did not buy this argument, he made his brother’s wife to transfer the land in his father’s name and since then his brother has severed all relations with him. This story is pretty much true for every immigrant’s family, brothers deceive brothers, families cheat families, families bilk families, as a result ultimate looser is none but the immigrant, he loses the money and the family as well. The immigrant’s love and caring are often used for self-benefit of receivers of the money. The world is full of selfish giants who do not care about love or affection, who care about money and money only but in the long run greed and avarice bring about the mistrust, hatred and finally breaking of families.

Sunil and Mona arrived in their home town early in a morning flight and went to his flat to keep all his belongings and decided to go to his parents’ home.

When Mona and Sunil arrived his parents’ home at about midmorning, they found that Sunil’s mother was washing the dirty dishes of last night’s party and Sunil’s niece was helping her in cleaning them. Sunil’s niece came running to her uncle and auntie and embraced them with happiness. Sunil saw his mother is wearing a pale torn Sari and her gloomy face made her look very tired. Sunil asked her thirteen-year-old niece – how are you, Keka? Then she looked at his mother and said – Ma, how are you? Before his mother said anything his niece Keka said –

Kaku, I am fine. Since today is Sunday, I do not have to go to school and every Sunday and Saturday I help Thakuma to wash the dishes which are left from yester night. In the meantime, Mona noticed that her mother-in-law was sitting with the big pile of dishes and then she rushed to her and said -Ma, you go to your son and talk to him, I shall wash these dishes quickly and join you very soon, Keka is here she will help me. Then she looked at Keka and said – Keka, come and help me, let us finish these quickly, then you can go and speak to your Kaku.

Sunil’s mother wiped her hands and said – Bouma, you don’t have to do it, I shall finish them later. Then she went to Sunil and took him into her bosom and said – dear, you came without informing, is everything alright with you guys in America? This is very shocking for us at this age, I was scared to see you both suddenly. Sunil’s mother seemed wailing, her eyes were sparkling with pearly water, she wiped her eyes and said – son, where is our grandson? Did he come? She started to look around anxiously to see her grandson but could not see him.

At that time Sunil replied – Ma, he did not come, he has school, so he is staying with Mona’s cousin. He will attend the school from their house.

Okay Baba, so why did you come now without informing us – replied his mother.

Sunil replied with remorse – Ma, I have been sending money for you and dad every month to my Dada (elder brother), Anil so that you all have a comfortable life here, I did not know that my brother Anil kept dad and you in a condition like this. Thanks to Ajay who let me know about dad and you. After Ajay’s phone call I could not stay there, I came here as soon as I could to see dad and you. I am shocked to see that my father wears an eye glass tying the frame and lens with a thread, I always thought that my Dada was taking care of dad and you with my money. I never thought that my brother was behaving like an abysmal like this, knowing all of these incidents I promise – I shall never let dad and you go through days like these any more, Ma, please forgive me, he touched his mother’s feet and begged her forgiveness. Then he said to his mother and father please come with us and stay with us for a few days in our apartment which Mona’s dad bought for Mona and me. In the meantime, Mona and Keka finished washing all those dishes and came to her Shashuri(mother-in-law) and said – Ma, please go and change your clothes, we shall go to our apartment with dad and you, from now on two of you will be living with us in our place. Then we shall try to get a permanent solution for it.

It was noticeable that even in this hue and cry Anil and his wife Kamala did not get up from their bed and come out to see that his Choto Bhai (younger brother) and his wife have come home from USA in their home this morning. So, Sunil’s mother called Keka and said – go to your mom and dad and tell them that your Kaku and Kakima have come from America. After hearing to her Thakuma(grandmother) Keka nervously looked at her Thakuma and said – Thakuma, you know, if I wake them up now, they will scold me, my dad will be very upset because they went to sleep late at night, you know how dad is. She realized a real concern in Kaka’s voice. Then Sunil’s mother said – okay, I shall do it. Saying this she walked to their bed room and knocked on the door and said – Anil, wake up, Sunil has come from America. Get up and come out to the drawing room (living room). Then she came back to the drawing room. In the meantime, Mona made some tea for everyone and brought it to the drawing room. She gave tea to everyone and gave milk to Keka.

Anil and Kamala came to the drawing room while rubbing their eyes from a broken sleep, they looked somewhat perplexed, they did not know how to greet Sunil and Mona, with an embarrassed face both Anil and Kamala said – you guys are here without any information, is everything okay with you in America? Where is your son? They enquired to Mona and Sunil. Sunil replied – yes, everything is fine there, but we came here because nothing is right here, how come mom and dad are living in such bad condition, dad’s eye glass is broken, mom is wearing an old and torn sari, why they are living in a such poor condition? I am sending you money every month for their comfort and affluence. Dada (elder brother), you are not right, instead of keeping them in comfort, Boudi (elder brother’s wife), how come my mother is washing dishes like a maid servant? Why you guys did not keep a person who can take care of this kind of household chores? Show me where did my money go? Since you did not spend the money for mom and dad, you must return my money now. Sunil was very angry and upset with his Dada and Boudi. Then he turned to his mom and dad and said – mom and dad, please come with me, you don’t have to stay one more minute with this ungrateful child of yours. Does our sister Soma know about this treatment of yours by our beloved Dada and Boudi? Sunil could not think – how his brother treated so badly his own parents, is he a human being or an animal? Even animals treat their mother with love and affection. Sunil finished his talking and then turned to his parents and said – mom and dad, let us go now to my apartment, I have lots of things to fix in this family here, so that never ever anyone can treat you like this. He held his parent’s hands and started to walk. At that time, Keka came to her Kaku and said – Kaku, can I come with Thakuma? Then she turned around towards her parents and said – Ma, I am going with Thakuma, I shall come back with you when you come to Kaku’s flat. At that time Sunil told his Dada and Boudi – please come to my place soon, we have lot of things to discuss and straighten. Remember, you are my Dada, we shall have our lunch together, if you can please call Soma, if she can come to my place also. Keka is coming with us, she will come back when you come back from my home this evening.

While going back to Sunil’s apartment, Sunil’s parents explained in details that their bad treatment started when they refused to sell the house to a promoter who wants to build a multistory building in the place of their house. And I heard, Anil has taken some money as advance and since then he is pressuring me to sell the house. Sunil and Mona heard all the details about the proposed sale of the house. After hearing all of these Sunil and Mona asked – mom and dad, what you want to do with the house? Do you have any idea in your mind? Dad, I do not need any money from the house. Do whatever pleases you to do.

After listening to Sunil and Mona, Sunil’s mother Bina said – son, your father wants to donate the house to make a school for the poor children who do not have any place for schooling, and two of us would like to devote our lives to educate these unfortunate children for the rest of our lives. Hearing this Keka said- Thakuma, this will be great. She stopped speaking; she was very happy to hear about the school. She hugged her Thakuma with joy. The family enjoyed to see that a teenager is even rejoicing with her grandparent’s decision of generosity and kindness.

Even Mona and Sunil got very excited and asked – have you decided on the name of the school? Can we hear the name of the school? Sunil and Mona looked eagerly to their parents.

Sunil’s father Akhil Said – yes, we have decided a name and it will be in the name of my mother and father. The school will be called “Mukti Sadhan Path Bhaban”. Mukti is my mother’s name and Sadhan is my father’s name; we want to keep this name for the school.

After hearing their plan everyone in the car started to express their happiness about the school. Sunil said – dad, I shall call an attorney tomorrow to form a trust for the school and start the process to register the school and start it as soon as possible. When Dada and Soma will hear about the school, I am sure, they will be very happy also. I shall be very proud to have a school in my grandparents’ name, nothing could be happier than this to me.

Sunil’s mother Bina said – hold your breath, Anil and Soma will never be happy about this decision, they always wanted to sell the property and get the money out of it, they want hard cash for this property. We are old, we have no value in life anymore, kind of burden on our children, we are afraid to think that Soma and Anil will ever like our plan for the school. Her voice was filled with despair and helplessness. All these thoughts made her morose, her eyes became watery. Bina and Nikhil never thought in million years that someday their own children would create an obstacle to fulfill their dream in opening a school and fight with them for the money which even did not exist then.

Sunil realized that his mother is concerned with her two other children about this idea of school. He firmly said – mom, do not worry at all, I am here, I shall make sure that you can fulfill your dream. I shall try to make them understand the importance of the school for two of you and I assure you that they have only one choice but to accept your idea for the school. In the meantime, Sunil and her parents arrived their home and Mona asked them if anyone wants some tea or coffee. Keka said – Kakima, may I also have some coffee. Mom wants me to drink only milk or juice, mom and dad does not allow me any coffee to drink. Keka tried to bribe her auntie with a hug and a kiss. Mona told her – let go, I have to ask your mom anyway, don’t be so bonhomie, it is not going to work. Be patient, I shall work for your caprice, now help me in making tea for them.

Keka said – Kakima, let’s go, make the tea and coffee for all of them. Keka started to push her Kakima towards the kitchen. Now she is anxious to get to work for making tea and coffee.

A few days later Anil and Soma came to Sunil’s place to see Sunil and Mona. Soma came with her husband, Abhik, and Anil and Kamala also came with their daughter Keka. Soma did not have any child yet. So, Soma was with her husband Abhik only. During the lunch time all the discussions started about their parents’ conditions where they were not treated properly even though Sunil used to send money for them. Akhil and Bina said – children, we have already decided what we are going to do with our lives, now you can support us or you can reject our proposal, for us it does not matter, because we have already decided what we want to do and it is written on the stone, it will never change, for you, you can help us in fulfilling our dream or you stay away from us, we respect your opinion either way and we shall not blame anyone for their dissidence. Then their father added – Anil was pressing to sell the house and adjacent land to a promoter who wants to build a multistory edifice and he would give each of you a flat and some money. I heard that Anil has accepted some money as advance from him, if he did it, he has done an improper act, this property belongs to us and we have decided to open a school in this property. We have already formed a trust and registered this property as a school for poor children and the name of the school is “Mukti Sadhan Vidya Bhaban” in memory of my parents. This school is going to start from next month. Your cooperation and help would take us a long way in our endeavor and we shall be proud of you for supporting us. We have given you education, you are all professionals, we believe, you do not need any money from anyone, so from now on you are on your own. Anil, you have to leave the house from next month, please arrange to move from this house before the opening of the school. If you do not leave in time, the trust will evict you with legal help. Now decide how you want to move, with your free will or be evicted, he sent a strong message to his eldest son.

After hearing their father, Anil burst into anger and said – you cannot deprive us from our ancestral property, you have no right to do it, I shall go to court to stop this nonsense of school. Then he turned to her sister Soma and said – Soma, do you agree with me to fight this decision of opening of the school and stop Ma and Baba from depriving us from our rightful inheritance.

Before Soma could say anything, Soma’s husband Abhik said – Soma and I will support their school, we do not want any money for the property because it does not belong to us, besides they are making a school there, all of us should help them and be proud of them instead going against it, all of you should also understand that this property legally belongs to them, if they want to open a school in it, so be it. Then he looked at his father-in-law and mother-in-law and said – Ma and Baba, I am very proud of you, even prouder to recognize that I became the son-in-law of such benevolent and good-hearted peoples like you. Please let Soma and I know if we can be of any help in the process. Then he turned to Anil and said – be proud of Baba and Ma, please help them, it will be good for you and your family, Keka will learn the value of giving and be kind to people, he looked at Soma and said – I am sure, Soma agrees with me too. Then he went to his in-laws and did Pranam (show respect by touching one’s feet) to both of them for their philanthropic act of opening a school. I promise, Soma and I will be on your side for the creation of this school.

When Abhik stopped his words; Anil got angry with Abhik and said – Abhik, this is our family matter, it will be better if Soma and you stay out of it. I don’t know – why you peoples do not see how much money Baba and Ma are wasting for this apparition of school. This money will be wasted for the peoples whom we do not even know, come back to your senses, and stop this dissipation which could be our fortune. I want to make it very clear to all of you that I shall try my best to stop this ghost of school once and for all. He stopped his argument with the fire of anger.

Akhil and Bina heard everyone’s reasoning very eagerly and attentively. They understood only Anil is totally against the proposed school, everyone in the family is supporting their cause to open a school. Now, they are more determined to go ahead for the school. Akhil said – Anil, the school is on, whether you support or not, it will be better for you if support us in opening the school. It is my property and I have decided to donate it for the proposed school. We regret that we failed to instill kindness and human values in you when you were growing up. Now, I advise you – try to share your good luck with those who need it most, that will give you happiness and a reason for living the life of a human being. I want to stop this unwanted discussion now, because it will hurt the family unity, eventually love and affection of the family will dissipate. All of you are adult now, please try to keep the family together and preserve the family’s love, affection and integrity together so that some day your children feel the pride of being a part of this family. This school will be an ember on the family memorabilia when we all will not be in this world. Money is important for life but when you use your money to change other’s life, then your life and money both become more worth having them in this mundane world. Remember – if you can change one life of any person for better then your life becomes worth living; always try to share your good luck with those who do not have it or who need it most. Bina and Akhil felt kind of tired and depressed with the attitude of their eldest son, Anil, but they have decided – no more discussion on this matter.

The room suddenly became very quiet as the eyes of a dead fish in the ice. It was almost lunch time. Food came on the table, they looked very delicious and palatable but nobody had a mind to enjoy these mouth-watering delicacies. Bina, the mother of the children, understood this by her mother’s instinct and said – please start taking food or it will be cold soon, then it will lose its taste. She started to put the food in the plates and then put the plates on the table, soon the air seemed to be little lighter with the aroma of food on the table and the members of this family started to lighten up and enjoy the food. Sunil said – Ma, food is delicious and I smell your touch in every dish, especially the goat curry, only my mother can cook the goat curry like this, what you say, Dada; he looked at Anil, Sunil wanted to get rid of the gloomy situation and make it a happy time for the family. Finally, some laughter and happy faces started to smile, the whole table was happy and some good personal interaction started among the family members. Akhil and Bina were very happy to look at their happy children, looked like happiness came back into the family again.

Sunil started to think that in USA, almost every immigrant has a story like the family of his own. These immigrants work hard to achieve their goals but the family never realize their hard work, they only think about the end result, the money. Family members back in home never realize the hard work their brothers or sisters are doing, they only ask for money even though they have plenty of it earned by themselves, it is an extra gravy for the other family members. Every immigrant wants to give a steady and solid financial help to his family but the family most of the times wants more and more, family starts to squeeze the immigrants more and more for money even though they really do not need it. Most of the time families think that their immigrant child is picking the money from a tree, so, asking for more does not make them feel guilty or ashamed. The other side of the coin, most of the time, when some immigrant goes to visit his family, they do not mention about the hard work they do, they only flash money, as a result of this immature act, the family often misunderstands the children, and often asks for more money and then the children get annoyed with the family. But Sunil’s family is little different. His parents never asked for a dime, but his brother, Anil, is little different, he always tried to get money from Sunil, greed was in every drop of Anil’s blood. Everyone in the family knew that Anil was a wily person and he would not spare any chance to get things to his advantage. Many times, Sunil felt an implosion in him for his Dada Anil’s avarice but he never said anything to his brother to preserve the family peace and harmony, for Sunil, love and affection were the most valuable ingredients in his life, above all selfishness and meanness. Sunil often wondered if the immigrants of England and Europe face the same kind of pressure for money from the families, or it is just for the US immigrants only.

With his parents’ choice of opening a school, he thought, was really a brilliant idea which he embraced with the bosom of his heart because this school was going to make his parents immortal for their kindness, the family would remain alive forever in the history of local town.

To be honest in the beginning, Sunil was little perplexed about the idea of his parents and he was in a dilemma because this School was going to definitely deprive his brother and sister from their ancestral inheritance, but when he saw the ecstatic contentious happiness in his parents, he could not but yield to their desire of opening the School, he put his parents’ happiness above all the odds related to their own benefits. As far as Mona and Sunil are concerned, their parents have taken the correct step for the right reason for the poor children of the local neighborhood. They felt happy and proud for their parents.

In almost every immigrant there is a story like this, this is the price an immigrant pays for his high ambition, hard work and eventual fiduciary success in his newly adopted country. Besides, an immigrant is often envied by the members of their own family like brothers and sisters for the success they achieve in their newly found homeland. In the beginning it used to bother Sunil and Mona but they have gradually learned how to cope with this kind of jealousy often shown by other family members and make their lives happy and peaceful as time passed by and for the family nexus Mona and Sunil would do anything to preserve it.

Notes