The Plan

Ria was grounded for nearly a month after her great argument with her mother at the restaurant. Her exams were finally over and the results still had to come out. Leela came up for a sleepover.

They both sat on Ria's beautiful round, king size platform bed. For the past one hour, they both were looking at pictures from their high school prom. Ria looked at them and felt very unhappy. 

"We had so much fun in high school here. In India, they don't have proms in high school. I don't know how a medical institution will be. I bet all guys are dorks."

"I heard from other cousins that those who have to became doctors finish their tenth and immediately join a corporate college to get a medical seat. These colleges teach the syllabus of eleventh and twelfth very thoroughly. The students give a regular test every week. These colleges want students to study for hours and even make students stay for an extra hour. They don't keep any sports or other activities in such colleges. Some of them don't even keep canteen to make students stay in class." said Leela 

"Oh my God, why do they do that?"

"They want their students to get good ranks for a medical seat."

"That's up to students own efforts. You must not force them."

"Yes, but a lot of teenagers from poor families get seats through these colleges so even rich families send their kids to such colleges."

"If this is the condition in high school I wonder about medical colleges. I cannot study the whole day. I need to have some fun or else I cannot focus at all. I don't care about other students. They can study like typical nerds and fight with each other for rank or marks. I was never focused on rank or getting straight A."

"I will be missing you." 

"Don't tell others that I am going to India. Tell them that I will be going to Germany. I had a reputation here, cannot spoil that."

"Chris was very interested in knowing where you will be going."

"We didn't go back to school after exams. Our results were not released How did you know this? Have you been talking with that crazy stalker?"

"You like him yet you call him a stalker."

"The more I resist, the more he will want me."

"Ria, you sound crazy."

"Leela, I am Ria, the Aphrodite of Brockville High. Boys run around me but I need that one man who is completely crazy about me."

"Even if he is a complete jerk?" 

"Yes," said Ria, as she got up and walked towards the window. She pushed the red drapes and looked out of the window. A couple of teenagers were singing and walking outside. The women who lived in the opposite house were playing with their children in their garden.

"So did you speak with him?"

"Yup, he called me recently asking which University was on your list. I told him that you weren't sure to continue education in America. I told him that you might go to England. He was very surprised. "

Ria sighed as she turned around. Leela pushed the photographs aside and looked at Ria.

"I know that you are unhappy with this decision but once you get a degree, you can come back. Everyone says India is the best country for doctors to get experienced. You will gain good knowledge. " said Leela. 

"WHAT 1 CRORE?" 

Both Ria and Leela looked at each other shocked.

"Is that your Dad?" asked Leela. 

Ria slowly opened the door and looked out. It looked like Mr and Mrs Singh were sitting in the hall and having an argument. They both sat opposite each other on the white couch. A small black wooden table was between them.

"Shh! Don't your let Ria hear this," said Mrs Singh.

"Natasha, that is too much to give for a medical seat."

"I know but for Ria, we will have to give  at least this amount."

"1 crore, I could send her to China or Germany. How can they ask so much amount? During our days it wasn't this much."

"I know but now everything has changed. She will be writing Neet but still, she will have to pay this amount. They are saying we can give 30 lakhs each year and the remaining amount in the final year."

" Ria doesn't even want to study there. What if she comes back because she cannot adjust?"

"She has to try. She must. I won't let her inside if she comes back. I want her to feel like a true Indian."

"I don't think she will feel that ever. Her diet and clothes will be changed. She will never be happy with that. What if she is unable to adjust and study? For someone like her putting this much amount is absurd."

"I know but we do have money. There is no need to get worried."

"Natasha, that is our hard-earned money. We cannot waste it like that. If she fails, we will get embarrassed in front of our relatives."

"We must do this to make Ria a better person. She will learn to adjust with time. She has to let go of her prejudice against our people."

"Alright, we will send her to India but I am warning you. If Ria fails, she will return to California. You must not stop me."

Mrs Singh sighed and looked down.

"Don't you want her to change her behaviour? She is rude and arrogant sometimes. She also needs to know about practical life."

"I know but that doesn't mean that we throw her in hell. She has lived a happy and very comfortable life here. That is very important for me and I know you too want that. Pushing her through hardships will be tough for us to even watch."

Ria slowly closed the door. She laughed and ran around her bedroom. She looked at herself in the mirror.

"This is the best thing I can do for myself. I will fail and come back to California."

"Yes, you can come back here and stay forever. We might then end up at the same university," said Leela happily.

Ria got stood up on her bed and looked at Leela.

"This is it. I will clear my neet with my best marks but fail and make my parents embarrass. They forced me to go to India against my will, they must also face this." said Ria with her hands on her hips.

"I will waiting eagerly to meet you again," said Leela.

"Yes, this will be my mission next year. I will fail my first year and come back to my birthplace."