Pay for dad’s upkeep, court tells NRI son

Pay for dad’s upkeep, court tells NRI son

SURAT: Like any doting parent, Aspi Satarawala fulfilled all the wishes of his only son Pesi. Not only did he pay for his education till he got
an MBA degree and got him married, the father spent his entire life’s savings to help Pesi settle in the US. But, at 65, Satarawala is regretting that he did so much for his son.

Since he left for the US in 1998, Pesi has left his ageing father to fend for himself in Navsari, not sending a penny back. Instead of quietly retiring, Satarawala is forced to work as a part-time accountant in a local firm and as assistant to the priest in the Agiary for a meagre Rs 1,500 every month. Satarawala retired as manager of a leather manufacturing unit in Mumbai in 1997.

But, Satarawala has not taken his son’s indifference kindly and dragged him to court. A Navsari court ordered Pesi to pay Rs 5,000 every month as maintenance to this father last year.

“But Pesi did not follow the court’s order,” Satarwala’s lawyer Narendra Desai said. He then approached the Indian Embassy in the US and US consulate in India. The Indian Embassy directed Pesi to go to India and settle the matter. The Navsari court has directed Pesi to remain present in person on June 29.

Pesi is currently in Chennai at his in-laws residence and has trying persuade his father for an out-of-court settlement. “But, Satarawala is in no mood to discuss the issue till Pesi presents himself in court,” said Desai.

Satarawala is among many Parsis, who suffer from the empty nest syndrome after their children fly off to distant shores. “Pesi has not even bothered to talk to me for the past 11 years despite my attempts,” said Satarawala.


Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com