The third episode of Grahan starts with Amrita’s father, Gursevak, waking up with visions of the 1984 Bokaro riots. He suggests to Amrita that they move to Canada to live with Kartik. However, Amrita says that she will have to remain a part of the Bokaro riots investigation since it involves Gursevak. She proceeds to ask him questions about his past but he doesn’t answer yet again. She decides to go to Bokaro herself to find out the truth.

CM Kedaar takes an update from Amrita and DSP Vikas about the ongoing SIT investigation. Vikas tells him that the rioter in the picture (Rishi) was last seen in Patna in the 90s. Amrita suggests that they go to Bokaro for further investigation and Kedaar agrees.

In 1984, Chunnu, Rishi and other men of the neighbourhood sit together at a tea stall. Chunnu discusses the rising Khalistani terrorism in Punjab. Manu’s father Kawaljeet and another Sikh man defend Punjab saying that the facts are far away from what the newspapers report. In turn, they indirectly attack Chunnu by bringing the death of a labourer in Bokaro to everyone’s notice. Chunnu doesn’t like this and leaves. This incident hints at the rising communal tensions at that time.

Rishi comes to tutor Manu at her place downstairs. She flirts with him and some banter follows. She is impressed by his knowledge. Rishi starts tutoring her regularly.

The scene shifts to the wedding of Rishi’s friend’s sister. Chunnu also arrives. Manu and her friend, Pragya stand at the entrance to welcome the groom’s relatives. Rishi takes Manu and Pragya to one side and tells them to go inside because the groom’s relatives don’t have good intentions. Chunnu sees Rishi talking to Manu. Manu sits alone inside when Rishi’s friend tries to make a move on her. She doesn’t want to talk to him but he follows her around. Chunnu also notices this. The bride’s father complains to Chunnu about the groom’s family demanding more space for their relatives to stay. Chunnu says that only if the neighbourhood didn’t have so many Sikhs, they could’ve used that space.

Rishi is at the terrace when Pragya comes to see him. She awkwardly confesses that she loves him. However, she knows that Rishi loves Manu. Pragya promises that she will never come between Manu and Rishi.

On a new day, Kawaljeet tries to start his scooter to drop Manu for her exam in Ranchi. However, he has to attend to some other work at the factory and his scooter is having issues. He requests that Rishi drop Manu and he agrees. Manu smiles slyly. Rishi takes her to the railway station on his scooter and they take a train to Ranchi. He wishes her the best for her exam and drops her at the examination centre. Throughout the journey, the two steal glances and blush.

Next, we’re taken to the scene where Indira Gandhi delivers a political speech. Chunnu is present in the audience. There is another politician with Gandhi on the stage who introduces his son, Kedaar Bhagat, to the public thereby marking Kedaar’s political debut. Chunnu goes up to Kedaar and says that he will do anything to make Kedaar win the elections. In turn, Kedaar replies that he will keep Chunnu in his mind. This raises Chunnu’s hopes of a future career in politics.

Manu’s exam is over and Rishi scolds her for all the wrong answers that she wrote. Angered, she runs away to catch the train to Bokaro alone without Rishi. Rishi panics and follows her to the railway station only to see her board the train and leave. The train stops at a station after a while and it is empty. Some men roaming on the station see her and knock on the door of the train but she locks it from inside. She is helpless and starts crying. Suddenly, she hears her name being called and unlocks the door immediately. Rishi is at the station. She runs to hug him. Rishi confesses his love for Manu and she feels the same for him.  

In the present day, Amrita and Vikas attend a wedding. The DIG is with Sanjay Singh. CM Kedaar also arrives and the DIG rushes to attend to him. Sanjay and Kedaar come face to face and together get a photo clicked with the bride and groom. While leaving, Kedaar says, “Phir mulaakat hogi Chunnu”. Sanjay Singh is none other than the union leader Chunnu who indeed incited violence against Sikhs in the Bokaro riots of 1984.

Sanjay goes up to Amrita and ironically asks her about how the SIT investigation against him is going. The DIG calls Amrita and Vikas to discuss something. He warns them to stay away from Sanjay.

Meanwhile, Gursevak also enters the wedding. Amrita spots him and goes up to him.

Sanjay and Gursevak come face to face. Sanjay recognises that Gursevak is Rishi. Sanjay says to Amrita that he feels good to see her father after so many years. Gursevak looks disturbed.

Amrita takes her father home and puts him to bed. Her father requests that she not go to Bokaro. However, she doesn’t pay heed to this request.

The next morning, Amrita and Vikas leave for Bokaro and a disturbed Gursevak watches his daughter go. He calls someone on the phone and says that he couldn’t stop Amrita from going to Bokaro. He doesn’t want his daughter to learn the truth about his past.

The third episode of Grahan doesn’t reveal much about the truth of the riots but delves more into Rishi and Manu’s love story. The ending of the episode highlights Gursevak’s fear of Amrita learning about the truth. Now that Amrita is on her way to Bokaro, I hope she makes some substantial progress in the case.

Episode Rating: 3.5/5