Delhi, India The World's Strictest Parents

Around the world, many parents

raise their kids on a diet of strict discipline...

As the head of the house,

I expect them to obey these rules whether we are right or not.

-..rigid boundaries...

-Say sorry. You will not do again.

My father controls my life every day.

Are we going to see some progress in five minutes?

..and immediate consequences.

Stop!

But can traditional parenting change the lives

of rebellious British teenagers?

Come and get me! I'm drinking underage.

I took LSD, cocaine, ecstasy,

weed, MDMA, ketamine.

When you're 17, you need to go out and party,

because, before you know it, you'll be like "That's it, game over."

I'm not coming back today, by the way.

See you in 20 years!

She's so incredibly rude.

She's just a cow, really.

-Do not swear at me.

-Dad, just be quiet!

I don't care what people think. Rules are made for breaking.

To find out, two teens who have never met before

will leave their fraught families behind...

Come on, give us a hug, come on!

Behave yourself, Shola. I'm not joking, behave.

..and head off to the far corners of the world

where they will live according to strict rules imposed by new parents.

HE BURPS

-Do you want a punch?

-No.

-Do you want a punch?

-No, gosh.

Get off me, get off.

Do me a favour and for once put some effort into your life!

-Go out! Go out!

-Get off!

Just go out!

The world does not revolve around you!

That's why I'm walking away and she's following me!

They can't programme me.

If all the British teenagers were like them...no good.

Shola, will you stop swearing?

I asked you, how many hours ago?

-No, I'm doing something.

-Do what?

-It's none of your business.

-Exactly, nothing.

And don't ignore me.

-Do you want me to leave a kettle on the cooker?

-Don't speak like that!

She will not be told about anything. Thinks she knows everything.

17-year-old Shola Bruce-Coker only cares about how she looks.

My mum told me to stop dying my hair cos it's damaging it and that but...

..she can't really do anything.

She doesn't like Shola's behaviour, but beleaguered mum Andrea

always backs down - even fixing Shola's hair extensions.

I'm such a sucker. I should just say "no" and stick to it.

Since leaving school and starting college

Shola's had a major image overhaul.

In secondary school we had to wear the same.

We had to have plain hair.

It was all boring and then, like, the summer after that,

I just went a bit mad.

And then, ever since then, I just like being unique and different.

I've been every colour but green or grey.

I think she goes for shock value. She wants to shock people

with her appearance and her language.

She's always been a very confident girl,

always been very sure of herself.

She loves to stand out in a crowd,

she loves to be the centre of attention.

Shola's parents split up when she was ten,

and she and brother TJ live with their mum.

It was complicated for ages, but I didn't really, like, mind.

I knew it was coming.

I'm not really bothered cos I still see both of 'em.

Mum, Andrea, works shifts and has no time for Shola's laziness.

My room's so messy and I actually do need to tidy it up

but I just can't be bothered.

She doesn't believe in work, everything should be given to her.

MUSIC: "S&M" by Rihanna

Having done OK at GCSEs, instead of hitting the books...

Shola now prefers to hit on the boys.

She's done exams, I've not seen her revise.

She seems to think she's failed before she's even got the results.

Now Andrea is at her wits' end.

Shola, get in the house!

-Chill out.

-Do you want environmental health here again?!

If this is how she spends her time, I'm glad I've seen it in my own home

to know that she's more out of control than I thought.

-I love this girl.

-Yeah, man.

The party doesn't start till I get there.

In rural Wales, 18-year-old Joiee Birch is binge drinking

to hide his extreme shyness.

He's a rebel! He's a rebel!

Your inhibitions go away so it's easier to, like, talk to people,

to make new friends, to make conversation.

Parents Linda and John moved to the Welsh valleys thinking it

an idyllic place to raise their kids.

But Joiee, youngest of two boys, struggled to make friends.

Unfortunately for him,

there was nobody around the area of his age or that he got on with.

He was very much a loner

and suddenly, now, he's gone the opposite way,

he's got a large circle of friends

who we know very little about to be truthful.

Despite being talented at art, Joiee's flunked out of college

and spent the last year drinking his life away.

I just feel a bit like I don't really have much direction.

I think that's partly why I do, like, sort of, go out and get wasted

because it's like you don't have to think about reality.

You just sort of escape it.

When he is at home he drinks openly during the day.

-I get mixed up with your friends.

-Why bother even trying to keep up?

Obviously you say, like, "Oh, who was he with last night?"

They're just names. You don't know them so it doesn't matter.

Maybe I don't know them because you never bring them home.

Well, yeah, I've had mates... Oh, I don't really want to talk to you.

Feeling guilty about his lonely childhood, Joiee's parents

let him get away with murder.

I will worry about you.

Am I supposed to feel guilty about that?

You're not meant to feel guilty at all. You carry on doing your thing.

And ferry him to and from his all-night parties.

If his life's so shit that all he wants to do is go out

and get wasted and that's the only time he can enjoy himself

then that makes me feel bad.

As a parent, it makes me feel bad.

To get the troubled teenagers back on track,

their families are sending them

to live with super strict parents on the other side of the world.

-Please be good.

-I will.

-Behave yourself, Shola, I'm not joking, behave.

-I will.

Don't die.

I hope she comes back better behaved.

Living 200 miles from Heathrow,

Joiee's saying his goodbyes at his front door.

Goodbye, sweetheart.

I hope that he learns to be a bit more respectful to us

and to appreciate the things that he's got.

Sometimes it takes a shock to the system,

to let him see just how fortunate he has been.

-Hiya!

-I'm Shola.

-I'm Joiee.

-Nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you.

Shola and Joiee are headed to northern India

where on the outskirts of Delhi lies the new city of Gurgaon.

A hub of international investment, the teens will be staying

in a luxury gated community with the Virk family.

Mum Rashmi was a teacher who now stays at home.

And dad Ashwani is an estate agent to India's new moneyed elite.

Their children are 15-year-old Akriti, 13-year-old Anoushka,

and three-year-old Sahej.

For an uncontrolled child, whoever comes to live with us,

we will definitely be a big match for them.

The Virks are Sikhs by faith.

Their core values include obedience.

You are not going, that is for sure. Every time you creating scene.

Children are like kites. The more you release the string,

the higher they will go. So that needs to be checked.

And education is key, with homework checks a regular feature.

In 18 days, if you tell me there is no chemistry, then I'm a fool.

If there is any page on which you are not circled red

then you can let me know.

Ashwani comes from a poor rural background.

His dad made huge sacrifices to send him to boarding school.

I am where I am today due to education, you know.

Without it, I would have been maybe...

Another guy on the road.

..another person on the street.

Instead, he moved up into the wealthy middle class

and insists his children follow in his footsteps.

If we can shape our children, we can shape any child.

After a long flight, the teens have arrived at Delhi airport.

-Joiee, everyone's staring!

-I know.

Anxious about spending a week with a family of strangers,

seriously shy Joiee has come prepared.

-They're not taking these. They can

-BLEEP.

We could make this a good holiday.

You haven't drank it yet.

My worst case scenario would be that we turn up

and they're like "Let's search your bags, we want to take your fags,

"take your alcohol" and give us like a list of chores or something.

To ensure his gin doesn't get confiscated,

the teens decant some into an empty water bottle.

Oh, my God.

-I hope they're not strict.

-I think they'll try and be.

-They might give up if we push.

-As long as we don't back down

then I can't see how they could win.

Oh, my God, I can see 'em.

I'm scared, oh, my God, turn back, turn back.

They don't look strict, they really don't.

-Hi, Shola.

-You all right?

-I'm Ashwani Virk, good to see you.

-Nice to meet you.

-Hi.

Good to see you. Hi, Joiee, good to see you.

-Nice to meet you.

-I'm Joiee.

-I'm Rashmi, your mum.

Come, please.

-This is Joiee's room.

-Going to be Joiee's room.

-For the time being.

-Yeah?

-I hope you like it.

-Yeah, this is nice.

-Yeah?

But Shola won't have quite as much space.

You share with the other children.

Your sisters will sleep with you,

-you're the elder one now.

-Yeah?

-Fine?

I'm a bit jealous because Joiee got his own room,

with a fat TV and I've got to share.

Not only has he got a room to himself, but Joiee's also got his own balcony.

Erm, they seem quite like welcoming, but obviously like I don't know,

the mum seems like she's got the potential to sort of...be a bitch.

-I was actually shocked when I first saw them.

-Yeah.

Because I am yet to come across such oddly dressed up children.

What kind of hairstyle Shola is having it, I don't know,

why they need such kind of hairstyle.

Shola, will you come down, please?

Mr Virk is a great believer in the power of communication.

Yeah, Joiee have a seat. Shola, please come this side.

So at the first opportunity, he wants to talk through the house rules with the teens.

See now that you are part of our household

there are a few things I would like to be very clear upon.

Shola, please look at the rules very carefully.

Only wear respectable Indian and Western clothes. Casual jeans and decent tops permitted.

For Indian girls definitely, respect is to cover their body.

I'm in India, but I'm not Indian. Sometimes someone's image means a lot to someone.

As a parent, I must tell you that we don't have to attract trouble

once we are out on the street.

Smoking, you're not allowed and if you have any smoking packs I want them right at the table.

-Do you have any?

-No.

-Be true to yourself!

-All right!

-Of course the most important, drinking liquor.

Do you have any of such habits which I may not know of?

-What, like alcohol? No.

-Good.

You are going to go to the school tomorrow, with the children,

-in the school dress.

-In school dress?

-In the school dress.

-We may like to change the hair colour.

-Huh, who, huh?

-Change my hair, no way, good luck!

-DOORBELL SOUNDS

Saved by the bell, Ashwani's daughters are home.

Model examples of schoolchildren.

-Hi, Arkiti.

-Hello, Papa.

-Hi, Anoushka, come...

Akriti, this is your elder sister, Shola.

Anoushka, Shola.

And that's your elder brother, Joiee.

Akriti... Anoushka...

-I hope those are easy Indian names to remember.

-I'll try my best.

Good.

Oh, my God, she looks like prostitute, having red hair.

The worst problem is the hair I'm facing.

But Ashwani's not done, and the talks recommence.

If you have to go to school you cannot go the way you are.

Why do you want to bring a disrespectful thing to us?

What's disrespectful about our hair? I don't understand, you're kicking up a fuss.

-Because it is not acceptable.

-Everyone has their human rights.

-We're not talking about human rights.

I'm getting my stuff and going for a walk.

I'm feeling so stressed, they want to know like everything.

They want to be all in your business 24/7

and I've only been here like half a day.

Right, let's go and get drunk.

Joiee and Shola still have their cleverly disguised gin.

-Oh!

-It does the job.

I'll put the rest of that gin into this bottle

so it looks like water and, I'm supposed to be drinking water,

so they'll think it is water, but it's not water...

I'm a genius, aren't I?

The teens want to go for a walk, but Shola's outfit goes against rule number one.

I think if you want to go down, please change your clothes,

otherwise stay here, don't go.

-Do you know what,

-BLEEP.

-I'll just do it to get everyone off my case.

But it's not only secret gin drinking that's on the agenda.

You know how bad it is for you?

Whilst Akriti dislikes their smoking, she has no idea that they're getting drunk.

Can I have some water?

Lovely!

-Don't drink it all, don't drink all my water.

-I won't.

-How old are you?

-15.

Wow, really?

-Oh, my god, she's only two years younger than me.

-You look quite young for 15.

I'm feeling a bit... woo-hoo.

It's all them fags you've been smoking!

Yeah, and all that water I've been drinking, you know.

I feel a bit tipsy, the gin's doing the job.

I think, stressful parents you need fags and alcohol, don't you?

Now drunk, the teens can either come clean over dinner

or carry on deceiving their new parents.

-Hi.

-They've been smoking.

Oh, OK...

I'm going to take my shoes off, my feet are killing me.

SHE LAUGHS

Would anybody like some buttered toast?

-No, thanks.

-No, thank you.

OK, I'm really worried because the stress is showing on your face.

-I'm just tired, it's like...

-OK, I'm sure.

It's a bit overwhelming, to be honest, being here.

Like, the whole of India, like, didn't expect it

and it's a bit overwhelming.

I just need to sleep, to be honest.

You should rest immediately after this.

Akriti, give him something cold also to drink,

he should not be short of liquids.

I've got water, like, in my bottle.

-Yeah, he's drinking a lot of water.

-Yeah, a lot...

I'm making up all these bullshit excuses, I'm like...

I'm tired, all the jet lag is getting to me, like all the heat.

I can't even see in a straight line, everything's like all blurry.

So... Oh... I don't know, this is day one

and I'm calling time out, if you know what I mean.

No-one's clocked, I don't think.

I think they just think we're a bit weird.

They're pretty interesting, they're behaving normally,

it's just that they were too tired today.

Let's see, a lot depends on tomorrow, how they behave in the school.

-Tired?

-Yeah.

6am dawns and, at the Virk house, it's time to get up for school.

Joiee, good morning, wake up time.

-Shola, wake up.

-In a minute!

Joiee's hangover cure consists of an illegal cigarette.

I regret drinking too much, because I feel like shit today.

I've got a banging head.

All the best.

-Shola, all the best.

-OK.

Like most children attending an Indian private school,

the teens will be going by bus.

As part of Ashwani's family, if Shola or Joiee get in trouble, it'll reflect on him.

Last quick advice Shola, Joiee, don't let me down.

All the best to both of you, listen to your teachers

and behave in a proper manner and tell me you've learnt a lot when you come back. Bye.

See you. Bye.

I'm sure both of them are a good boy and a girl

so they'll keep my name up. I'm sure they're going to do well. That's what I'm hoping.

I'm not worried or excited, because I'm dressed like this.

-I look like a bit of a

-BLEEP.

The Virk children attend Dehli Public School,

one of the most prestigious private schools in India.

Get back to your class, move back to class.

The principal Aditi Misra puts her success down to strict discipline.

Are you wearing socks?

-Yes, I am.

-Then let's see them.

Discipline is according to me the cornerstone of any good education,

not just today but throughout life.

But Joiee, who hasn't been to school in a year, is used to doing whatever he wants.

I'm not happy about this.

We're rebels, we don't care.

It's just strange, you know.

Really strange to see people who are so different from you.

Good morning, Akriti.

-First stop is the Principal's office.

-Hello.

Word's reached her that they have been smoking.

Welcome to India. Welcome to Delhi Public School.

There are some rules that you need to follow when you're in this school.

As far as I know you're coming from...

-It's not amusing at all.

-Sorry.

-I don't expect to be laughed at.

-I'm not laughing at you.

Whatever, you're not supposed to laugh.

Smoking within school premises, is a complete no, no,

I can't have you setting a bad example for the rest of my students.

You respect the school, we'll respect you back and give you a very, very nice time.

Thank you. Can you take them to the class.

The girl's hair is obviously coloured, which we don't accept.

I think I'll let that pass, because that's a very small thing compared to what they've just done.

-She's a bit easy.

-She's a pushover.

Pillock!

-Oh,

-BLEEP.

Oh, God, it's so crazy here. I don't know... Where are they going? We have to go to the class...

Despite their telling off, the teens disappear to find a quiet corner of the school.

But there's nowhere to hide.

Come on, come on, let's move.

Can we move, please?

Yes, or no?

-Shall we just go?

-Let's move, come on, let's go.

To the principal's office.

-Let's walk.

-We're walking!

They've been caught in the act by the vice-principal.

Joiee and Shola are escorted to the head.

I haven't said you can sit down, have I?

Sorry.

-Can I have the packet?

-No

-Now!

-You're not going to give it back.

Thank you.

-Do you want my lighter and all?

-Obviously.

OK, but you're not checking my bag.

You have been told certain rules, the least you can do is respect those.

-Don't grab my bag.

-I said, "No," I don't want you to search my bag.

I also told you I don't want you to smoke, listen to me.

Why are you still holding my bag, it's not yours, is it?

It's against the school rules. Don't back chat.

-I'm not chatting back, I'm giving my opinion.

-You are answering back. I'm not used to that.

Well, I'm not used to not smoking but...

Hey! Where are you going?

Joiee doesn't want his stash of gin hidden in his bag to be discovered.

-Get off me, please.

-No.

-Get off me.

-Come on.

Please. Please, let me calm down then.

Get off me, please. Get off me, please.

He'll get off when you give him the bag.

No, you're not having my bag. I'm sick of... Argh!

-All of you, just

-BLEEP!

Call Mr Virk, right away.

Very bad. They're letting my parents down.

Having to call the security in, that's never happened before, ever.

So I have taken a pretty serious view.

Yet again, Joiee's alcohol dependency has gone undetected.

Everyone's there looking around like it's a crime scene.

-It wasn't far off.

-Really, he's going mad.

Ashwani has no idea why he's been summoned.

Thank you for coming in at such short notice.

-The moment they came to school they were caught smoking.

-Right.

To cut a long story short we won't be able to keep them in the school.

I would like to request you to just give me one more chance

because I'd like to speak to them later in the evening.

It's a request which I'm with a heavy heart making to you.

-They go home today.

-OK.

On Monday when they come, should this happen they will be taken home immediately.

-OK.

-Right?

-Thank you so much.

Joiee, come. Shola, let's go home.

As ever, Ashwani believes all problems can be solved by discussion.

First day and first impression you get is this, you get expelled from school.

-And face your parents in certain embarrassing situation.

-Oh, my God.

-You're disrespecting by laughing.

-I don't mean to disrespect you.

-It's because we're nervous.

-I didn't mean to disrespect you.

What it is. According to us, it is disrespect.

Shameless fellows, you are. You did mistake. Did you, or not?

If I was drinking and smoking and doing drugs at school

I would understand where you're coming from.

-I'm not being funny, It's just a little cigarette.

-Try to understand, Shola...

-But it could be worse...

-You have certain responsibilities. What could be worse?

-The situation, imagine if I was sniffing coke in the toilets?

-Don't say, "if".

-I wish!

SHE LAUGHS

Don't say, " if".

-Joiee it's not a thing to laugh.

-It is a mark of disrespect.

I'm sorry.

-How many cigarettes do you smoke in a day?

-Ten, around ten, 12.

-How about you Joiee?

-Yeah, about the same, yeah.

Same? If I allow you certain cigarettes outside down below, in certain places,

then is that an activity which may not happen during school?

-During school times, I won't smoke.

-Yeah, I won't smoke.

-Yeah, Joiee?

-Yeah.

-Is that a promise I can take from you?

-Yeah.

I need to get changed.

You want to go up, yeah?

Realising the teens are addicted to smoking,

Ashwani compromises for the first time.

There is certain liberty which has been given to them

and which I am sure my children will be very surprised when they get to know.

Because they know their father doesn't compromise.

And Ashwani's approach has had quite an impact on Joiee.

I think it's good the fact

that they do want to sit down and talk to you.

And, like, if you have any problems

then you get them aired out in the open

and everyone sort of says what they think.

They want to hear your side of the story...

Well, sort of.

After it you feel a lot better because it's, like, resolved.

Whereas in my house, it's just like issues just carry on, like.

There's never a resolution.

But the teens haven't got off scot-free.

Former teacher, Rashmi has asked them to write an essay about themselves.

She wants to get to know them better.

I told them to do an essay on myself,

to get them to know what kind of children are they?

What they are thinking about their family

as well as about their parents.

So let's see what they write and we can cover it.

My biggest fear was that I was going to start writing

and it was all going to sort of come out.

And I prefer to, like put up a barrier

and, like, not let everyone see all my emotions,

but it has all come out.

I've been writing about everything about myself,

it's gone proper personal.

Today these lovely kids from British - is that right?

-Britain.

-Britain, yeah.

They have done something for me as well as for themselves.

-True?

-I suppose.

-You can read that.

OK.

"I am Shola, and I am seventeen years of age

"and I've got mixed ethnicity.

"I express myself personally through my appearance,

"like these brightly-coloured crazy, hair styles."

Thank God at least you call your hair styles crazy.

Unique. "My appearance is very important in other ways too.

"For example, how people see you or judge you on the..."

Outside.

"Another way of expression for me are my body piercings and tattoos."

Are you sucking your thumb, why's that?

-She's nervous.

-She's nervous.

Really? But that you don't write here.

I want to clap on that.

At least, you know, I appreciate you are very true.

You didn't hide anything.

"My name is Joiee. I'm 18 years old.

"I don't have a job. That's fine.

"And I don't go to college, I feel that I have no career plans

"and I failed in regards to my education."

You know, Joiee, failure should not stop you from doing so many things.

Yeah, I know.

You know Einstein, he always failed in mathematics

and he went on to make the most complicated theories in the world.

"But I feel that I am a lost cause.

"It's so much easier to forget about my problems

"than to take responsibility for the pain

"I have caused to my family and to myself.

"Somewhere along the way I have got lost and become out of control."

Your family always has time for you.

If you ask your parents, they always have time for you.

-It always ends in an argument.

-Some problem or...

You just tell your mum,

"I want to say something, can you listen, please?"

-You can always say.

-Joiee, if you really feel this,

it's a thing that you can easily overcome.

'I'm used to putting up a barrier,

'so it's quite, like, a daunting thing to do.'

I suppose it feels like they know me a little bit better now

and maybe they can understand why I do some of the things I do.

And that I'm actually human and I'm not just, like,

-a robot who misbehaves.

-'He keeps everything to himself.'

He doesn't like to talk to people about his problems and that.

But I haven't learnt anything about myself really, not yet.

OK, both of you, good night. I hope you have a good sleep.

'If you know somebody a little bit more intensely,

'you can definitely find a way'

to get through to them, to reach them and tell them,

"look, this is the way it should be done, this is not right."

I don't want that they should change for a week or so.

I want they change deeply from their heart...permanently.

And learn some good things from us.

After yesterday's behaviour,

Ashwani has a plan that involves eating humble pie.

He's taking the British teens back to his roots,

poverty-stricken rural India.

I really want to let them feel that life is tough out there,

because that's where I come from.

If you don't educate yourself,

you can still end up in that same place.

The teens need to wear respectable clothes for the trip.

But again, Shola's worried about her street cred.

Wow, what's wrong with this?

Look where her length of the suit is, right up to the knees,

yours is the same story.

You keep comparing me, but I'm not...

Not comparing. You were saying you had a problem with the length.

Why do you want to tie up the knots? Just leave it loose.

I'm covered, ain't I?

It's not a party time there, you know?

You bought me this, I'm wearing this.

This is the furthest I'm going to go, so deal with it.

You're trying to make a favour

that I bought you this, you're wearing it.

Since we are going to the countryside which is an Indian one,

you need to wear an Indian dress. That's what I'm trying to explain.

-Do you want me to get out my hot pants?

-You can pull it down.

It's not allowed there, that's what I'm trying to tell you.

20km away is the village of Abhaypur

where there's no water supply or electricity

and newly married women keep their faces covered.

In contrast, Shola's barely covered her behind.

It seems Ashwani's picking his battles.

How are you, Captain Sharma? Akriti, my daughter, Anoushka.

-This is Joiee.

-Hello, hiya?

And that's Shola. Captain Sharma is a family friend.

I have been brought up here, so I do want to show you

how life is in an Indian village.

Where I am today, I also stared my life from here.

I would want you to know what life is about in these parts, yeah? Come.

Here, the extended family is vast and showing respect is critical.

These are your aunts, OK?

Same family in the village for many years,

and they've been living here since then.

You had to go miles away to fetch water in such earthen pots,

on their heads, you had to carry it for miles.

They don't have the appliances and electronics and everything.

They have to do everything by hand,

like, put a lot of time and effort in.

I suppose it makes you feel lucky for, like, what we have back home.

I've seen it before because I've been to Africa.

Most of this village struggle to make a living as farmers.

I'm going to ask my children

to cut the grass here and cut the plants

which is a corn field, basically.

We just came here just to stand in a field,

-that's so

-BLEEP

-pointless.

Your initiation is done, try it out.

Shola, why are you standing there? Come here.

-I'm not that interested.

-You can see it.

-I can see.

-OK, good.

Mind your fingers and it's just with one stroke of hand beneath you.

See that, there you are. She's good. Move here.

Joiee, Joiee, do just one plant, and yeah,

just put there, Joiee, it's so easy.

You're doing a great thing, that's interesting. Shola?

-I'm not doing it.

-Most of the women do it in the village.

You say most of the women do it, I don't care.

I understand, but this is what life is,

there are many things you don't care.

I've been in Africa, I've seen poverty.

There are many things in life you don't care.

You're putting it down to women, that's sexist.

-Where I'm from, women and men are both independent.

-I'm not taking you to the Stone Age,

I'm trying to explain how difficult life is.

-I'm saying I just want to go home.

-We'll go home.

-We'll go home, don't worry.

-When? You keep saying we'll go home after this.

-After this we'll go home, no issues.

-You said that last time.

I've got one cigarette left and I'm hot and I'm tired

and I've got to wear this and it's boiling.

I think Shola, I don't think she was trying as hard

as she could have with trying new things.

Obviously, yes, it's going to be different

and you won't enjoy everything,

but I've been trying to make the effort

whereas I think she's been a bit sulky.

Today's been shit. I hate it, I just want to go home.

Shola particularly is pretty stressed out.

Joiee was, in fact, more curious you know?

He wanted to see a lot of other things, activities,

but I think he's just wanting to accompany Shola

and I would love to continue with a couple of more activities.

Despite progress today, Joiee's still dependent on his gin.

I'm drinking this in front of them and they don't even know.

Oh, it's so stressful, you need it.

I think by 12, we will be free.

The teens are halfway through their stay and Ashwani has an important announcement.

Sundays we generally go to the temple, where we worship. OK?

Tomorrow is more auspicious because my father passed away,

so we hold a small ceremony and this is going to be towards my father

and definitely I'm not going to tolerate

anything which is against religion. OK?

And Shola, you must see this dress

and whether it's long or short or loose or tight,

because I don't want to hear anything about it in the morning, OK?

Inside the Gurdwara you need to cover your head.

But look how thick that is, like, why can't I just have one like that?

It looks nice on her, but green doesn't go with my skin complexion.

I don't really want to wear that.

-That you are arguing...

-I don't like it.

-I told you the reason you like it.

-You're raising your voice at me, for what?

You're, like, getting a boner over nothing.

I should listen to your choice or I should respect my father?

-Respect your father.

-I've told you, I told you what it is for

and you're arguing over the dress?

-Is temple a showcase? Is it a model house?

-No.

Do you want to show God how well you are dressed?

-That's not my God, that's your God.

-You can't walk out of here,

you have to finish this argument right now, or you walk out of the house from here.

I'm not going out of the house, I'm going upstairs.

-Shall I take you out?

-I'm getting a

-BLEEP

-lighter.

-Again you said

-BLEEP? BLEEP

-word for you!

-Why are you using this word?

-Because what's your problem? Leave me alone.

-What's your problem? Don't say

-BLEEP

-in my house, move out.

Get off me! Get off me! Get off me!

Just move out of my house, just move out.

Don't try to... Move out, move out, just move out!

-You're not allowed here.

-BLEEP!

I will to talk to your parents and then throw you out of the house.

-You bring shame!

-BLEEP!

-You don't have any respect for anybody's life.

-BLEEP! BLEEP!

I am here, I am trying to do something for my dead father

and you're trying to teach me what I should do? Just move out.

That's what I'm doing. Get off me! I swear to God!

I have explained the reason and she wants to act smart.

-SHE SOBS

-Oh, my God.

Are you all right?

Just chatting so much shit.

It's his father so, like, I do respect that.

I just think, like, I dunno...

Like, I can understand why he's angry, to be honest.

Yeah, the same but...

I'd be the same if it was my dad and, like,

someone was like refusing to wear a shirt to respect my dad.

Even if she'd like...

I wore a dress from, like, my shoulders to my feet,

that would even be better than wearing that.

I'm really angry, it will still take time to sink in.

Joiee, Joiee, just have a nice sleep, don't worry.

I don't think she means to be disrespectful to you, like, I appreciate that...

You need to give me time and space, OK?

Yeah, don't worry just go to sleep, good night.

-Thank you, good night.

-Good night.

Shola has been sat on the stairs for half an hour.

I've been thinking a bit, like,

also I didn't want to disrespect his dad or whatever.

But he should know that's how I am, I'm stubborn like that.

I don't know. I'm not used to, like, living in a family with a dad

and maybe that's it, I don't know.

I didn't mean to make you angry.

I think everyone sort of thought I was trying to

-disrespect his father on purpose.

-What you did, big mistake.

-I know.

Life is not about fashion and clothes.

So many kids, they don't have even money to get that kind of clothes.

You're living in, I don't know which world.

You know, giving satisfaction to others,

or listening to others will give you a lot of satisfaction.

You know, give and take is life.

-Can you give me five minutes?

-OK.

-Thanks.

Where I live, like, what you wear is, like, everything sort of.

But here they don't even have much,

they don't really have a choice of what they wear.

It's whatever they can get and, like,

the conversation with Mum was just like...

It made me realise. I never say sorry to anyone

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to disrespect, I overreacted.

It's really hurt me, by doing what I have done to you also.

No, Shola, go and sleep and be ready for the morning tomorrow, OK?

Where is the outfit?

Thanks. Just have a quick sleep.

Don't bring stress to yourself, OK?

I feel really bad.

Really, really bad cos, I don't know.

That's just how I react at home, like,

but I didn't think that it would be such a big thing here.

If Shola understood my perspective of feelings,

that means she has feelings, right?

And that's what I would have expected from my daughter.

After last night's upset, this morning the mood is subdued

and the family ready themselves for the memorial service for Ashwani's father.

Going to the temple means a lot to Dad,

so I'm just going to keep my mouth shut and just do whatever.

Shola is looking the best.

-My headscarf is upstairs.

-Great, your scarf is coming? Great.

It's suiting you, this. It's fantastic.

Ashwani's family have been coming to this temple for six years

and due to the importance of today's ceremony,

-it's crucial the teens behave.

-HARMONIUM PLAYS

Ashwani's father died 11 years ago and he honours him every year.

PRIEST SINGS

It is a very special day. We are all together in such a holy place.

The British teens are given trophies, which are only handed out

to people who do something important for the Sikh faith.

PRIEST CHANTS

And there's a marked change in Shola's attitude towards her outfit.

'I was just being good, on my best behaviour.

'I think it's a good experience, it's something to learn'

and I'll probably remember it.

The village is not very important to me or to Shola,

but I respect, like, this so I'm trying my best to sort of like...

-..get on with it.

-PRIEST PRAYS

It was an amazing change

which I have discovered today

and it has really made me emotional and I...

The teens return to school tomorrow.

Geography's their first class and they're actually doing their homework.

-I bet this is the first piece of homework you've done in years.

-Yeah.

-I thought so.

I usually do it at the start of the lesson, turn up early before the teacher comes then scribble it down

while they're like writing shit on the board,

or copy someone else's!

Joiee also seems to be enjoying family life.

-What are you doing?

-Straightening my hair.

To top it off, he's been working on a caricature

of his Indian baby brother, Sahej.

I am quite proud of it. I don't know, I just hope they like it.

Hi, Joiee.

This is a picture I drew of Sahej.

My goodness!

-Do you like it?

-Oh, very nice.

Joiee, I'm really proud. Just show it to me.

I never knew it was the same exactly like Sajeh.

See? That's the most powerful thing in this whole...

His hair style and the eyes, man.

Well, Joiee, come and give me a hug. I'm really proud. Come.

'I'm not very confident with my artwork and, like, anything that I've done.'

I find it easier to... If somebody insults me, I find that easier to handle

than if someone compliments me. I don't really know how to take it when people compliment me.

Well...I'm feeling proud to take them to school now.

It's 7.15 at Delhi public school.

There are no fags or booze in the teens' schoolbags this morning.

All the best for your exam, take care.

I hope they have understood, because today is actually a test by fire.

-I hope you have done your homework.

-Yes.

-How many of you have made the poster?

Those who have got it, stand up.

OK. Sit, sit, sit.

Who wants to go first and talk about the poster they have made?

Who will come forward? Joiee, do you want to, your turn?

Would you like to talk about it?

This is the first time in two years that Joiee's spoken

in front of a class.

-Hi.

-HE GIGGLES

Um, I made my poster. Obviously, it's about water conservation.

My slogan is, "Conserving water in the present for a better future,"

because obviously, like, you need to, like, prepare for the future

by, like, acting now, yeah.

-That's my poster.

-That's very nice.

APPLAUSE

The class reports have said that they have been very supportive,

they're participating in discussions, they're talking, and they've done their homework!

Seeing all the kids here, how dedicated they are to their education and their learning,

and they sort of like ask me. "Oh, what do you do with your life?"

And I sort of think, like, "All I do is like...

"get drunk and like party and just, like, laze about." I just think

I need to find like a balance -

either go back to college or try and find like a job or something

to help my parents out in the meantime.

As well as being a fee-paying school by day, once the wealthy students

go home, the school opens its doors to underprivileged kids.

Children, this is Akriti Virk and she's hosting these two children,

she is Shola and this is Joiee.

Children, would you like to tell us what all you do in the morning?

I help my father.

I get up in the morning at five o'clock.

And what about you, Abhishek? How do you help your parents?

In the morning I get up at four o'clock, I fetch the water,

-half a kilometre.

-OK, about half a kilometre.

-Yes, ma'am.

-What do you want to become in the future?

-And you have to tell us from the heart.

-Teacher!

Teacher!

You know, Shola and Joiee, when she grows up she wants to be a teacher.

-Your papa will send you to the college?

-Yes, ma'am.

There is no looking back. Since they got education,

they are only looking upwards

and they will graduate from here and college.

Children, whatever you dream,

one day definitely you shall become whatever you want to be.

-Is that OK?

-ALL: Yes, ma'am.

-Please can I give a friendship band?

-Friendship band for you.

-You can write whatever you like.

-Aw, can I have a hug? Thank you.

Friends forever!

'That sort of made me value education'

a lot more because...

they have so much to do in the day

and they still make time, whereas I get tired from, like,

the littlest things, but they still try really hard to get an education.

The teens' time in India is almost over

and Rashmi has a surprise for Shola.

Something is for you. From a mum to the daughter.

-Tattooing your hands.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-Aww! Thank you!

I can see your eyes are more clear now. You are more confident

and you start to understand others' feelings now.

-Am I wrong or right?

-Right.

-I can read? OK, that's great.

What is your plan?

I'm going to be more, like, open,

-be able to apologise and, like, open with my mum.

-Mm-hm.

I'm going to, like...

keep my head down and study a lot more.

You know now that apologies mean a lot, isn't it?

You can see the difference. Good.

And after a week of soul searching, Joiee has made a decision.

All gone. I've learnt here that you can deal with your problems

in other ways. You can sit down and talk and, like, I think

it's definitely, like, I don't feel that I need alcohol anymore, like.

There's no reason to have it.

After their week's stay with the Virk family,

the teens fly home tonight.

I've learnt that you just have to accept what you have.

I'm pretty lucky with what I have,

whereas I didn't really realise that before.

When I go back to the UK I'm going to, like, just find something

to focus on, like a hobby that is constructive.

Not just going out all the time and getting drunk

because it's pointless. I need to grow up.

-Thanks, girls.

-Oh, I love it.

When they came into my house, it was like I asked myself

in the middle of the night, "What are you doing, you know?"

They were just like aliens for me!

-Now they're my kids.

-Aww, thank you.

'I like the potentials they have in their talents and their approach'

to life. I think if they apply that correctly and they remember what we have told them,

they can go places, let me tell you that.

And after an eventful trip,

Ashwani wants to know if Joiee's ready to go home.

So it's your last day with us today.

You're going to finally meet your parents back home. Did you miss them?

Since I've been here, I've been trying not to think about home because I think I'd get emotional.

All I just want is for, like, everyone to be happy.

They are there for you.

Yeah, I know.

You have found the best of your life so your relationship can be improved.

I think I'd given up on myself

so I just, like, assumed everyone else had given up on me,

but my parents are, like, the two people who are, like, there for me.

You probably didn't try to understand their feelings

-at any point. You were too busy...

-I was selfish, I was just selfish.

Before I didn't care if I upset my mum or anything.

I just didn't care, I'd always argue with my dad...

-..but I don't want to do that anymore.

-Come and hug me.

This is something which I have been doing with you.

Thank you for everything.

Bye, Mum.

-You too, and take care of you and your mum as well.

-I will.

-You too, you're both beautiful.

-Wish you all the best.

Love to your parents.

-And just listen to what they say.

-Look after everyone.

Write to me!

-Yes, I will, OK.

-Bye, sayonara.

-Love you, Mum. Love you, Dad. Love you.

-Bye!

I hope she's got a more responsible attitude,

willing to help out, willing to take better care of herself

and just that she's grown up a bit.

Shola!

Aww!

I've missed you so much, honestly, I really have.

I'm going to concentrate more at college

and not just going to lessons.

I'm sorry for being lazy and stubborn and stuff

and I'm going to try and change.

Good. Come here. I'm glad.

Mum in India taught me to just, like, how to open up

so I think me and my mum will have a better relationship now that

I'm, like, going to be open with her and stuff.

It makes me very proud to see the change in Shola,

very proud and very happy,

and I will tell her so as often as possible.

I hope that it's given him

the opportunity to realise how lucky he is

and just generally that you don't need alcohol

to enjoy life to the full, really.

-Hello!

-Hello.

-Hiya!

-You all right?

-I'm fine. Hiya.

Did you have a good time, kid, eh?

We weren't allowed any alcohol in the house, but I smuggled in some gin.

The first night, I got absolutely off my face

so I didn't have to face reality, but then I realised

that facing up to things isn't actually all that bad.

That's when I sort of poured it away.

-I'm just so glad to hear you saying this.

-Are you surprised?

I'm really pleased.

'I still think there's a lot of work to be done on relationships'

and on deciding what I want to do as, like, a career or college,

but it's definitely something that I'm not afraid of looking into any more.

It's something that I'm, like, a lot more prepared to, like, face up to.

Already I can see in him straight away

there is a certain brightness that's there that's nice to see, which we haven't seen for a long time.

We've known it's always been there, but it's nice to see it coming back again.

It's brilliant. Thank you.

-What's your problem?

-Next time on The World's Strictest Parents...

I'm not going to say what I feel that you look like.

..24-hour party girl Jade Bare...

I'm not coming back today, by the way. See you in 20 years!

..and lazy stoner Connor Jones..

-Your brother had £10 in his wallet.

-I never touched it.

-..get new parents in Seattle.

-We do not allow Facebook.

What do you use a computer for if you can't go on Facebook?

HE BURPS

Today I was informed that you had taken a drink.

I'm innocent until it's been proved that I've taken it.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

E-mail [email protected]