The eleventh and penultimate episode of Breathe: Into the Shadows opens at the principal’s cremation. In the previous episode, we saw the inception of J’s plan. In this episode of Breathe: Into the Shadows, we’re given greater insight into J’s psyche. J thinks that now that Pa isn’t there between him and Avi, J can make use of Avi. J goes back and takes out the diary that Pa had given him and revisits his memories and traumas. J is the personification of Avi’s traumas. He thinks that Avi is weak as J always took all his traumas on himself. Thus, J concocts a plan to make Avi feel all the pain and when he finally does so, it would be the end of J. We’re shown how J figures out the logistics of the plan - he buys a new car, uses a factory behind a closed cinema as his lair, traces all the targets, makes his mask from his mother’s dupatta.

At the crime branch, the team is busy solving the case of the Ravana killer. Avi now thinks that all the killings are random and not connected to each other or the killer in any way. JP agrees but Kabir doesn’t. Next, they sit for tea together and Kabir talks to Avi in a way that makes it clear that Kabir suspects him. Avi gets a call from Chanakyapuri police because a 6-year-old girl has been found dead by the lakeside. Kabir and Prakash accompany him while Kabir instructs JP to take Avi’s DNA sample from his cup of tea.

Questions on Kabir’s aggressive behaviour are on the rise. Zeba makes use of this opportunity and further inflames the DCP. The DCP asks JP to get Kabir immediately. JP calls Kabir but they pretend as if they don’t have a network connection and hang up.

Avi, Kabir and Prakash reach the lakeside. Avi is tense which brings out the J in him. He goes to see the body while limping. Kabir notices this. Thankfully, the girl isn’t Siya. Now, Avi is back. To Kabir and Prakash’s surprise, Avi again has a look at the body as if he didn’t look at it earlier. Avi sees that the girl isn’t Siya and is relieved. The thought that the girl could have been Siya disturbs him and he breaks down in the car.

The media questions Zeba about Kabir’s brutality with the public. Her plan is working.

Kabir and Meghna are at the doctor’s clinic for Meghna’s regular check-up. There, he learns that Meghna is moving to Canada. He asks the doctor if a person could fake a limp. The doctor analyses the pictures of the footprints at the crime scene and points out that the tilt of the limp is different in different pictures and so it is quite possible that the killer is faking a limp.

Meghna apologises to Kabir for not telling him earlier that she is moving to Canada. Her father is sending her to stay with her aunt as there is a miracle doctor in Canada. She is leaving next week. On their way back, there is total silence in the car. The media is outside Meghna’s home and bombards Meghna with questions. In his rage, Kabir gets into a scuffle with reporters.  

Next, we see Kabir at the forensic lab. Kabir is disappointed that Avi’s cup swab and the DNA on Pritpal’s pen don’t match. But how did Avi do this? We learn that since Avi is a criminal profiler he knows many hackers. He got one of the hackers to change his DNA sample in the records of the crime branch. Avi knows that Kabir is suspicious of him. Kabir is outside Avi’s home. Avi goes outside and tells him that he can’t meet him right now as he is disturbed after the incident at the lakeside. Kabir leaves and notices Avi’s walk. It is normal. Kabir asks Avi about the scar on his foot and if he still limps occasionally because of it. Avi replies in the negative.

Prakash is with his friend, Vrushali, in her car. They flirt and there is a bit of sexual tension between them. They stop at a petrol pump and Prakash spots Avi. That is actually J waiting in the car for Shirley. Prakash goes up to greet J but there is no response from his side. He sees Shirley get into his car. He mocks Avi for cheating on his wife. This is so ironic given Prakash is married and is hanging out with Vrushali, his ex-girlfriend.

At Abha’s hotel, she is called by a customer who wants to compliment the chef. The customer is Kabir. He tries to interrogate her while maintaining a superficial face of kindness. He says that her reaction was a bit subdued when she saw Siya’s drawing. Abha gives a befitting reply to Kabir. He also brings up the topic of the lip balm as he saw the same lip balm at Abha’s home that was found in Natasha’s hotel room. He tries to get more information out of her but she handles the situation very smartly. As he drives back, his wound’s pain increases, his vision gets blurry and he encounters an accident. He is taken to the hospital. JP informs him that the case has been given to Zeba since it will take time for Kabir to heal. Kabir says it is his case and will remain his case only. He instructs JP and Prakash to question the families of the victims again. Kabir analyses their statements from the hospital bed. The one link that he finds common in the victims is their visit to Nainital - Pritpal and his wife visited Nainital on their honeymoon and Natasha also visited Nainital in her summer vacations. Kabir learns that Avi was in a boarding school in Nainital. To put all the pieces together, Kabir escapes from the hospital and sets out for Nainital.

With just one episode left in the series Breathe: Into the Shadows, the end doesn’t seem near. Will the presence of J inside Avi’s mind be finally revealed?

Episode rating: 3/5