The second episode of Breathe: Into the Shadows opens at the kidnapper’s place where we’re shown his equipment such as various computers. The kidnapper keeps an eye on Gayatri and Siya through the one-way glass. He makes Gayatri cut Siya’s hair. He seems harmless and it looks like they’re peacefully co-existing with each other. Gayatri asks him for some essential items.

Abha and Avi are outside the police station. They argue about whether or not they should report the kidnapper. Abha doesn’t want to go in while Avi is of the view that they should let the police handle this. Overcome by the fear that something bad could happen to his daughter, Avi gives in and they don’t go inside.

Elsewhere, Kabir wakes up from a dream about a girl falling from a building. He is in the jail’s hospital after being stabbed by another inmate. We learn that he has been in jail for six months because of a case involving a girl. Today is his release. Sub inspector Prakash comes to pick him up. Kabir asks him about Meghna (?) and Prakash tells him that her family took her to Delhi.

At home, Avi and Abha analyse the video sent by the kidnapper. They figure out that according to the amount of insulin left with the kidnapper, Avi and Abha have 11 days to execute the murder of Pritpal Singh Bharaj.

Next, we’re shown Pritpal’s life. Avi keeps an eye on him outside Pritpal’s house. Avi follows him and finds out that he runs a crockery store. Debbie, Avi’s secretary calls him to remind him of a work meeting but he pushes all his appointments to next week. Meanwhile, Abha finds out the address from which the courier was sent. She reaches the address but it is a playschool. Avi suggests that it could be a dummy address and tells her to go home. Avi continues following Pritpal. After a long day at work, Pritpal goes to a chicken shop for drinks with his friends and then home.

Avi and Abha analyse the kidnapper’s video again. Avi notices that the kidnapper has a limp. Abha is confused about why Gayatri has been kidnapped along with Siya. Avi suggests that since Gayatri is a medical student she can take care of Siya and her insulin shots.

Kabir is hell-bent on going to Delhi to see Meghna. He asks for a transfer to Delhi from Nashik which is granted to him.  

At night, Avi takes a stroll outside Pritpal’s house. He peeks inside his house and sees Pritpal soaking money notes in water. What is going on? Suddenly, something strikes Avi. He recollects the events of the day and notices that Pritpal has an obsession with cleanliness.

The next day, the doorbell of Pritpal’s house rings early morning. Mud, grass and all kinds of garbage are at his doorstep. Pritpal sees this and starts panicking. He shouts for his wife who tries to calm him down. Looks like Avi is responsible for this.

Avi tells Abha that Pritpal has germaphobia which means that he is scared of all kinds of dirt. Avi continues to pester Pritpal in order to anger him.

In the next scene, Pritpal is at a restaurant with his wife. He uses the washroom and when he comes out to wash his hands, he sees dirt and mud all over. He freaks out and comes out calling for the manager. The next day, his car is drenched in pigeon beet. All of this makes Pritpal increasingly angry and he goes to the police for help. However, the police don’t take his complaint seriously.

Nine days have passed. Avi is left in a quandary about whether to kill Pritpal or not. He almost chooses not to, but he remembers the sweet face of his daughter and goes ahead with his plan.

Avi changes his phone’s SIM card. He enters Pritpal’s house, posing as a colleague of Pritpal’s son who works in Hyderabad. Avi asks to use the washroom. He calls Pritpal from the washroom and talks to him confessing that he is the person responsible for all the garbage. He challenges Pritpal which angers him. Avi comes out of the washroom wearing a glove in his right hand and holding a knife. Looks like Avi is ready to murder Pritpal. But his plan is spoiled as a police officer enters Pritpal’s home for passport verification. Avi smartly hides his knife and leaves. With another day gone, just one more day is left for Avi to save his daughter and murder Pritpal.

In Nashik, Kabir dines with Prakash and his family. We learn that Kabir is divorced and his wife has gone to Paris. Prakash gets a call confirming his transfer to Delhi along with Kabir.

Pritpal is with his friends at the chicken shop. He rants about the person filling his life with garbage. As he drives back home, Avi calls him and challenges him again. He tells Pritpal to come to meet him at the next turn. Furious, Pritpal does so. Pritpal sees Avi who is dressed in all black with a black cap and black mask. Avi leads him to a dump yard and tries to choke him there. Pritpal tries to put up a fight but finally, Avi stabs him and Pritpal loses consciousness. In the process, we see Pritpal’s pen unhook from his shirt. This pen is given importance which means it might become a crucial clue afterward.

On gaining consciousness, Pritpal finds his hands and legs tied as he lies amid all the garbage in the dump yard. Avi tapes Pritpal’s phone to a JCB truck to record Pritpal’s death as instructed by the kidnapper. Finally, in a gruesome act, Avi runs the truck over Pritpal, silencing his pleading cries. This scene is extremely disturbing to watch. Avi immediately sends the video to the phone number given by the kidnapper. Turns out that the phone number belongs to a media channel that consequently, airs the video on their channel.

Kabir and Prakash land in Delhi. At the airport, they see the video of the murder and the episode ends with a close-up shot of Kabir.

The second episode of Breathe: Into the Shadows is somewhat gripping but also has a lot of build-ups before the actual murder happens. With blood on Avi’s hands, will the kidnapper return Siya or is this just the start of a trail of crimes?

Episode Rating: 3/5