A Bengaluru-based student’s quest for “temporary parents” has taken social media by storm after they posted an advertisement on Reddit offering ₹15,000 for a single-day assignment. The student, reportedly anxious about a mandatory Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTM) at their college, sought a middle-aged surrogate who could “speak fluent English” and “act confidently” to handle queries from college officials.
While the identity of the student and the institution remain confidential, the post has triggered a polarized debate between those who find it a humorous “modern-day struggle” and those concerned about the deepening disconnect between Indian students and their parents.
The Fine Print of a “Parental” Profile
The Reddit post was remarkably specific, almost reading like a corporate job description. To qualify for the ₹15,000 payout a sum the student noted would be paid by their boyfriend the candidate needed to be over 40 years old and possess a “sophisticated” demeanor.
The student emphasized that the imposter must not only attend the meeting but also “convincingly play the part” to ensure the college authorities did not suspect any foul play.
On platforms like X (formerly Twitter), the post garnered thousands of comments; while some older users jokingly offered their services for “extra retirement income,” others pointed out that the high fee suggests the student might be in significant academic or disciplinary trouble.
Bengaluru’s High-Stakes Educational Culture
This incident highlights a peculiar trend in Bengaluru, often dubbed the Silicon Valley of India, where high academic expectations frequently clash with the reality of student life. Educational experts suggest that such extreme measures are often born out of a “fear of failure” culture.
In many Indian households, a poor PTM result is seen as a social and familial catastrophe, leading students to seek “gig-economy” solutions for their personal lives.
This is not the first time Bengaluru’s academic pressures have gone viral; from landlords asking for Class 10 marks to rent apartments to students hiring “fake cousins” for local errands, the city’s competitive spirit often creates unintended, and sometimes desperate, social bypasses.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we view this viral post as a cry for help disguised as a transaction. When a young adult feels that paying a stranger to lie is safer than telling their parents the truth, it exposes a tragic lack of psychological safety within our homes. Education should be a collaborative journey of growth, not a source of such paralyzing anxiety that it drives students toward deception.
We must move toward a culture of “kindness over grades,” where parents are seen as allies and mentors rather than judges and executioners. True progress lies in fostering a home environment where a student can walk into a PTM with their real parents, regardless of the marks on the paper.
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A college classmate did this in 2003.
— Narayanan Hariharan (@narayananh) March 13, 2026
Hired his good-looking, English-speaking cook to attend the PTM as his father. Paid him ₹10K. It was on a Saturday, and the cook gave an Oscar-level performance.
Everything was perfect.
Until the following Tuesday, when his real father… pic.twitter.com/FIqBZKQIUN
