Met my Amma and Daddy yesterday who live in other end of Hyd, near BHEL. I lived in BHEL, until I went to Medical college and then to UK. My "hometown" is BHEL. Amma and Daddy lived all their life in BHEL Township until dad retired. BHEL Township then was a very closed community. Dad is 78 old. And he was telling me yesterday what people of his generation are feeling. Whole of my my childhood and youth, during BHEL stay, there was this almost competition and gup-shup between the middle class parents of which kid studied what course, which kid got into IIT, which kid became a doctor or engineer, which kid got into which renowed college and which kids got through which campus placement? Then came the next set of rounds of which kid went to USA and which kid worked for which company in USA? Which kid went to Australia or UK or Canada? Which kid is earning how many dollars or pounds and how much that will equate in Indian currency? Then came the rounds of which kid married which other kid and now how much the new son-in-law or daughter-in-law was earning abroad? Then came which couples bought their huge houses abroad and how their grandkids are born. Next came the talk of how these now retired dad's age group uncles and aunties went to USA/UK/Canada/Australia and how they would spend some lovely time with their kids and grand-kids abroad. Infact, when anyone wanted to return back to India, lots of parents' generation did not like it, they said the kids were better off abroad and quality of life was better there. All these chit-chats used to happen in the uncles and aunties group gossip in parks, temples, marriages, functions. Dad yesterday, for the first time told me that his peers of almost the same age are now discussing "How, I wish I had one child here in India, with whom we can share our old age" Life has come back a full circle for some of these elderly people. From not missing their children to missing their children. Not discussing right or wrong here. Just writing what I observe. Just like everything else in life, even this situation is complex. Kids are correct, their parents are correct too. Life's circumstances are correct too perhaps. #SundayMusings