From pride to pain: The unseen struggles of parents Abroad”

“Every parent dreams their child will look after them one day. We never thought we’d be taken for granted like this, but our daughter has been our lifeline.”

— Kamla (Name changed for person’s pricay)

PRAVASISAMWAD.COM

 Kamla and Ramnath Sharma, a modest couple from a small village in Gujarat, had always dreamed big for their only son, Arjun. Despite their limited resources, they ensured he received the best education they could afford. With every rupee they saved, they sacrificed their own needs, believing their son would create a better life for himself and the family.

Their pride soared when Arjun completed his engineering degree and landed a prestigious job in the United States.

Years later, Arjun married Priya, a charming girl from India. Together, they returned to the U.S. and started a life of their own, eventually becoming parents to two beautiful children.

Kamla and Ramnath were overjoyed when Arjun invited them to visit him in the U.S., thinking their son wanted to share his newfound success and happiness with them.

While most families depend on the financial support of their children living abroad, this was a unique case of a daughter back in India sending both emotional and financial support to her parents living in the U.S.

But what seemed like a dream soon turned into a quiet nightmare. After a few months, the Sharmas began to feel less like cherished guests and more like unpaid workers.

Arjun’s caring demeanor faded, and they were expected to cook, clean, and care for the children full-time. Domestic help in the U.S. was expensive, and Arjun and Priya began treating Kamla and Ramnath like convenient, free labor. The emotional toll grew as Arjun became increasingly distant and rude, often neglecting their basic needs and taking their presence for granted.

With each day, Kamla and Ramnath realized that love and care could come from unexpected places, and though their son had failed them, their daughter stood by them unwaveringly, even from thousands of miles away

In this new and unfamiliar country, Kamla felt isolated. It wasn’t until she met Shabina, another Indian woman living in the U.S., that she found a confidante.

Shabina listened sympathetically as Kamla shared her frustrations and pain, discreetly offering help when she could. During one of her visits back to India, Shabina met Kamla’s daughter, Pooja. She shared the heartbreaking reality of her parents’ situation, revealing the emotional strain they were under.

Pooja was shocked. As the eldest daughter, she had always believed her parents were well taken care of. Determined to ease their burden, she sent along some homemade delicacies and money for her parents, ensuring Shabina could deliver them once she returned to the U.S. Kamla and Ramnath were overwhelmed with gratitude when they received Pooja’s care package.

While most families depend on the financial support of their children living abroad, this was a unique case of a daughter back in India sending both emotional and financial support to her parents living in the U.S.

With each day, Kamla and Ramnath realized that love and care could come from unexpected places, and though their son had failed them, their daughter stood by them unwaveringly, even from thousands of miles away.

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