From: kris@cimnext2.cim.eas.asu.edu (Kris Kamisetty)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: Short Story - "Our Parents in USA" (Not LONG!)
Date: 16 Apr 92 21:53:19 GMT
Reply-To: kamisett@enuxha.eas.asu.edu
Organization: Arizona State University


			OUR PARENTS IN USA



	It's often very sad to see Indian parents coming here for a visit.   
"Why?", you ask!  I agree that they visit USA most often, for seeing their  
son/daughter, Daughter-in-law/Son-in-law and grandson/granddaughter, as the  
stars may be!  However, a lot of suspicious things happen here that leave them  
waiting for their return trip. 

	Initially,  the parents concerned, are extremely excited about going to  
their Munna's or Pappu's house, and say to their neighbors, "Munna has come of  
age, I say. He never used to leave the kitchen and often help his mother make  
murukkus (spicy rings made with flour). Now, he has gone to USA all on his own  
and he, even has a weird accent!"  They might also show Munna's first journal  
paper that is probably published in the Journal of Irreproducible results or  
some such, in a golden frame sent by Munna along with the paper.

	Any way, they fill up their suitcases with stainless steel vessels,  
murukku tube that their daughter or Daughter-in-law has asked for.  Actually,  
this packing process is not a finite one because one could never tell when you  
have seen the last of the neighbors with a request for mailing the letter to  
their "cousin" or "uncle".  You got to use a lot of discretion when taking up  
on these offers.  Sweets are a No-No, unless of course, you plan on wringing  
the oil out of your clothes and saving on cooking oil when you reach home.

	After the initial thrill of cars, highways in USA, they settle right  
into the downright  prosaic life of the home-bound except for the occasional  
trips to Indian grocery shop and video rental shop.  Their attempts at striking  
friendship with the usurers that manage these shops never fructify because of  
their lack of mobility. Why, just take the case of the father of my friend, who  
(no, not my friend - but, his father) came here recently for an "obligatory"  
visit to see his grandson.  He was unusually happy for the first few days to  
see his people and the naughty junior.  But, lately, he has developed this  
unusual habit of pouncing upon any Indian that graces his door and grabbing his  
hands for a coffee and little chit-chat on Indian budget or some such "current"  
issue.  They seem so forlorn.  

	They also get used to the routine of getting dressed and waving "bye"  
to their son/Son-in-law and daughter/Daughter-in-law at 7 AM and waiting until  
evening with a sumptuous dinner that they prepared.  As their children settle  
into their Macy's sofas bought in a "going-out-of-business" sale, to watch TV,  
parents comment, "What Television, abba! All adult movies, they are showing on  
TV. Shameless people."  They often nicely bring this tirade to a logical end  
with a blanket generalization like, "What a decadent society!", all while  
sipping the coffee freshly brewed in an automatic coffee-maker and wiping their  
hands with a paper towel.

	They wait for that sale in K-Mart and for that weekend in a mall, more  
than any one else. They count days for their return trip and an opportunity to  
show their neighbors, the K-Mart portrait they have taken and brag about the  
size of their children's house, the stores and the sales,  and the highways and  
the cars in rosy tones and hues. They can't wait to get back to India and wait  
for the mail from their children in USA.


--
-Krishnaprasad
Kris Kamisetty,CIM Systems Research,Dept. Of IE, ASU         
e-mail: kamisett@enuxha.eas.asu.edu
USmail: ERC 552,CIM Center,ASU,Tempe,AZ 85287-5106
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian