The third episode of The Family Man Season 2 starts in a flashback from a few years ago in Northern Sri Lanka. The setting is of a Tamil Lankan rebels’ camp where Raji is fighting fiercely. Selva is also present. They find explosives in a box.

The scene changes. It is Suchi’s birthday in the present day. Srikant and the kids gather around her bed to give her a birthday surprise. The Family Man’s family shares a rare sweet moment. Arvind also texts his birthday wishes to Suchi.

Suchi is in her counselling session. We learn that she isn’t fully in touch with Arvind, although he keeps messaging her from time to time. The counsellor asks Suchi how Arvind’s messages make her feel. She feels that she is projecting her mental state on Srikant even though she is aware that he is trying his best to become a good father and husband. Is it bothering her that she is not in love with Srikant anymore? She feels that she is living a lie. The counsellor suggests that she move on and go back to her job. We also learn that there is a certain ‘truth’ which Srikant isn’t aware of and is bothering Suchi.

Sambit and Kulkarni discuss the aftermath of Subbu’s death in Indian custody. There is unrest in Chennai which leads to the possibility of retaliation from the rebel groups. Intel from the London office also says that there could be a serious problem in India as Bhaskaran and Sameer have joined hands to avenge their respective motives. Sambit and Kulkarni contemplate the possibility of the PM’s assassination. Kulkarni suggests that the PM’s talks with the Sri Lankan President being held in Chennai should be cancelled.

PM Basu is stressed because a political prisoner has died in Indian custody. Sambit apprises her of the collaboration between Sameer and the Tamil rebels. He hints that there could be a possible assassination plan of the PM. Sambit suggests that Basu refrain from making any public appearances for some time. However, even after knowing the high risk involved, Basu does not cancel the talks with the Lankan President in Chennai.

Dhriti is with Kalyan. Kalyan stops at a cigarette shop for a light. The shopkeeper calls him ‘Salman’. Dhriti asks Kalyan about it but he brushes it off with a filmy line.

Sameer calls Sajid and congratulates him on the completion of the first phase of the plan (Subbu’s killing). Sameer orders him to stay in Chennai for the second phase. Sajid requests to visit Mumbai for a week for some personal work but Sameer doesn’t allow it. Is Sajid’s ‘personal work’ related to Dhriti and Kalyan (aka Salman)?

Sajid calls Salman the next moment and instructs him to completely cut off from the girl i.e. Dhriti. Sajid says that the plan is cancelled. But what was the plan?

JK comes to meet Srikant at his office. The whole TASC team is going to Chennai to investigate Subbu’s death and to ensure the PM’s safety. Srikant learns about the collaboration between Sameer and the Tamil rebels. JK tries to convince Srikant to come along. Their conversation is interrupted with the arrival of Srikant’s boss and they part.

Raji is at the factory where she works. She goes up to her boss to resign. She says she is going back to her hometown as her mother is unwell. Her boss recognises her Sri Lankan Tamil accent.

Srikant and Suchi are out for dinner at a restaurant for Suchi’s birthday. She tells him that she is thinking of going back to work in Arvind’s company, ShrinkMe. Arvind’s name creates a certain tension between Suchi and Srikant which leads to a fight. Srikant expresses how she is never happy with him even when he is fulfilling all the duties of a father and a husband. Suchi makes him realise that this is normal and not something extraordinary. She reminds him of the time when she alone did everything for the kids because Srikant was mostly away. “Our marriage is a sham”, says Suchi and angrily tells him to rejoin TASC. She suggests that they take some time off from each other. Srikant doesn’t understand this concept of taking a break in relationships. Both of them reach home, angry and irritated. Atharv sees his parents sleep in different rooms.

The next day, Srikant is stressed at work because of what happened the night before. His boss again lectures him about his performance. Sick of the daily bickering, Srikant grabs the collar of his 28-year-old CEO boss and quits his job. On his way back, he calls Kulkarni who welcomes Srikant back to TASC.

In Chennai, Raji’s boss calls her to come sit inside his car. He knows that she is from Jaffna and has given a fake address in the office records. Her boss asks her for a sexual favour in return for protecting her identity and not reporting her to the police.

Suchi and Arvind meet at a café. Suchi expresses her wish to join ShrinkMe again. Arvind is delighted at this news. When they are about to leave, he says “I keep thinking about…We should talk sometime”. Definitely something has happened between them that is still hidden. Did something happen in Lonavala when they went for the meeting with the investors in the first season of The Family Man?

Nandu, the boss, visits Raji’s home at night. He eats, drinks and then starts raping her. She is frozen throughout the act. This annoys Nandu and he slaps her repeatedly. This brings some of Raji’s traumatic memories to the fore and something takes over her. In a fit of rage, she kills Nandu with her bare hands. Samantha Akkineni as Raji is nothing short of a powerful performer.

This episode of The Family Man 2 is entertaining and full of drama, although not much is revealed. Now that Arvind is back in Suchi’s life, it will be interesting to see how their dynamic shapes up.

Episode Rating: 3.5/5