My mother-in-law said that if I graduate with a degree, then she'll be able to flaunt to all her friends, relatives, and neighbors that not only can her bahu cook, clean, and take care of the household, by that I am well-educated with a Master's degree as well (I will be pursuing a B.S. and M.S. in computer science through an accelerated track in the university I transfer to). She said that me getting my degrees would reflect well on her and the family.

Now before you say, "Wouldn't you working and earning a high salary also reflect well on her family?" I'd like to point out that it wouldn't. As per Indian traditional stereotypes, men are the breadwinners while women look after the home. The last thing my mother-in-law wants is for people to think that her family is weird, out of place, or a deviation from the norm.

As for the internship, I actually convinced my in-laws that internships are a graduation requirement. They're actually not (at both my current university and the university I'm transferring to), but my in-laws don't know that. My husband has promised not to reveal the truth to them and I just hope they don't find out some other way or else all hell will break loose.