Star One

A TV Serial by Sridhar Rangayan

Produced by HUMMING BIRD FILMS

Episodic Synopsis 21 - 30

Episode 21

Avi dails the number from which Minu called him and it rings close to him. He turns back to find Minu at the telephone booth. Both are overjoyed to meet and rush in a cab towards the harbour front. On the ship all are tense when DC gets a call from Avi that he has found Minu. All are relieved, but the second hoot has been sounded. Its a race against time as Avi and Minu rush to board the ship. They reach there just as the gates close. The security guard refuses to re-open the gates despite Avi and Minu pleading with him. The ship sails away without Avi and Minu. Yamini faints and is bed-ridden. Avi blames Minu for missing the ship; they start fighting. But Avi cannot leave her and go. What should they do next? Avi tells Minu that there is a train which goes upto the next port; perhaps they can catch the ship from there. Rita berates Manav for coming back on the ship and losing a golden chance to win Minu over. Yamini, instead of being happy that Avi has found Minu, is upset that she is with that Punjabi boy whom she doesn't trust! Avi and Minu reach the station. Minu is touched by Avi's concern when he brings her some food. But both are shocked when Avi realizes that he doesn't have money to buy tickets. He can't even go to the ATM since the train is departing in a few minutes. Avi drags Minu and boards the train. Minu is very upset and petrified that they are traveling without a ticket. Her worst fears come true when the ticket collector start approaching them. She pleads with Avi to do something. He drags her into a corner and covering themselves with the jacket, bends his face close to Minu's. The TC think they are a couple busy kissing and moves away. Freeze on Avi kissing Minu.

Episode 22

Minu moves away from Avi indignantly, but just then sees the TC again. She drags Avi close and pretends to kiss. When the TC moves away, Minu is upset with herself and Avi. She gets down from the train at the next stop. Avi and Minu have a tiff. Minu is upset because they boarded the train without a ticket and Avi is upset because now they are stuck till next morning. Rita meets Yamini and emotionally blackmails her into believing that Avi deliberately missed the ship so that he can be alone with Minu. Yamini breaks down. Avi removes money at an ATM and check into a hotel with Minu. She is horrified to find that they have to share a room and refuses to go out with him for dinner. But finally feeling hungry, she rushes to the restaurant to see Avi guzzling food. Avi offers her milk saying that's those who behave like spoilt children deserve. Minu, angrily, picks up the bottle of beer and starts drinking. She downs about 5 bottles even as Avi tries to stop her. Drunk, she creates a racket in the restaurant, much to the amusement of other guests and Avi's embarrassment. When Avi goes to fetch lime juice for her, she disappears. Avi searches for a drunken Minu through the streets of Malaysia. Finally finds her standing at the edge of a fountain. As he tries to pull her down, she falsl into the water. Avi is mesmerized by the wet and beautiful Minu. Next morning Minu finds herself without her clothes and screams at Avi, especially when he says he couldn't control himself. As Avi goes out, the maid comes and explains that she changed Minu's clothes. She also tells Minu that she has a caring husband who sat awake all night beside her. Minu goes and apologizes to a much amused Avi. They board a train, this time with ticket. Beginning of a new friendship - Minu feels comfortable with Avi and snuggles up to him as she sleeps.

Tension on the ship since the ship will specially dock in Singapore port for about 10minutes. Avi and Minu get down from the train and speed towards the port in a cab. As they reach the harbour and they run towards the ship, Avi falls down and hurts his leg badly. It is touch and go as everyone on the ship panic as the ship is about to move. But they are overjoyed seeing Avi and Minu rush in at the last minute. Even as Avi and MInu run forward to embrace their parents, Avi skids and falls. He s carried away on a stretcher. Manali faints. Pankaj dresses up his son Avi's wound, but recommends bed rest. As Minu goes forward to care for him, Rita sends her away crying by insulting her, saying it is because of her that Avi is in this condition. But Yamini is repentant that she judged the Punjabi boy wrongly. Eashwaran is keen to find out from Minu how she and Avi felt together for two days! Manali is upset that Rita is with Avi instead of Minu and her blood pressuire rases. Pankaj prescribes strong sedative. Ruby says such medicine might not be available on the ship. Nitin-Shilpa say Divya takes such sedatives. When DC goes to get it from Divya, he is extremely concerned when she neither opens the door despite persistent knocking nor receives phone calls. What is wrong with Divya?

Episode 24

Minu sees Rita having a snack at the coffee bar and wonders who is wih Avi in the sick bay. She rushes there to find Avi all alone and needing help. He wants some fresh ai and insists that Minu take him to the deck. Manav sees Minu supporting him and taunts Rita for leaving Avi. Rita rushes to the deck and insults Minu, who moves away tear-faced. DC calls the security to open the door, but just then a very drunk Divya opens it and shouts at DC for disturbing her. She bangs the door on DC's face, asking him to mind his own business. As Rita tries to support Avi towards a deck chair, he slips and falls. Minu rushes and shouts at Rita and asks her to find help. She starts bandaging Avi's leg. Pankaj rushes there with Rita and is impressed with the way Minu has taken care of Avi which makes Rita burn. Manav adds fuel to fire when he wakes up Rita nexty morning to tell her that Minu and Avi are having breakfast together. When Rita rushes there and offers to give him his medicine, Avi says Minu has already taken care of it. Rita storms ou angrily, but is confronted by Manav who says he cannot work with someone who doesn't know how to win a man like Avi. They have a heated argument which almost leads to them breaking off their villainous partnership. But Rita finally insists that the only way they can win their respective heartthrobs is by helping each other. DC finds Divya's door open and enters - he is shocked to find her stone drunk and surrounded by her old photographs. He carries her and tucks her into bed. Minu reaches late with lunch for Avi and he refuses to eat. Minu says she too will not eat till he eats. Rita taunts Minu that her trick won't work, but Minu tells her she knows Avi better. When Rita turns to look, she finds Avi eating the lunch. Rita is furious to be defeated by Minu.

Minu comes to wake up Avinash who is reluctant to get up. When she starts pulling the bedsheet, Avi resists. Minu is amused when she realizes that Avi is resisting because he is undressed and his trousers are hanging on the peg! She shyly tells him to keep his room locked when he is sleeping. Divya is full of remorse as she remembers her past and how she has been cruel to DC all along. Varun gets upset and picks up a row with Rohan when he realizes that Sheetal is not allowed to eat anything since she is supposed to be a strict diet. Just then Abbas comes and tells Nitin that Shilpa has fainted. All rush only to find that Shilpa is pregnant. Nitin is ecstatic. He starts off being very strict with Shilpa about her diet which bugs Shilpa. But he also is loving when he fills the cabin with toys. Everybody is the ship are shocked when the sirens go on full alert and rush to find Divya attempting suicide by climbing onto the furthermost railing on the ship. In a sequence of high drama and tension, DC rescues Divya and carries her back. He takes a trolley full of wine bottles and offers it to Divya as a four course breakfast. Divya is repentant and soulful. She tells him she has nobody to care for. DC says look around and you will find people who love you. Rita tries to intervene as Minu and Avi are having breakfast, but her plans are foiled when Avi moves away with Minu's support. Minu, while cleaning Avi's room finds his passport and discovers his date of birth - Avi's birthday falls the next day! She plans a surprise party alongwith Ruby. Manav overhears this and informs Rita. Rita vows that she will not let Minu have this party - Avi is hers and she will make sure to win Avi over.

Episode 26

Manav asks Rita why she is so hung up on Avi when there is richer man on board - DC. Rita tells him that she only wants Avi since he is a climber and she will have a great future with him. Manav also says that Minu is the only girl for him and he will do anything to win her. Minu asks Manav to sing at her surprise party for Avi. Rita is furious. But Manav tells her a plan how to sabotage the surprise party. Rita goes to Ruby and offers help. She cons an unsuspecting Ruby and takes the invitation cards saying she will fill the venue and time and distribute it herself. Avi meets Pankaj and fishes for his birthday wish, but Pankaj pretends as if he knows nothing, though he has already received the party invite through Rita. Pankaj informs Manali about the surprise party and tells her that their 'bahu' has organized the party. Manali is thrilled thinking it is Minu who is organizing it. Rita also gives the same impression to Eashwaran. When Eashwaran and Manali meet they are ecstatic that all their plans are falling into place. Ruby who spies mistakes their talks and angrily accuses them of having an affair. She says she will expose them soon. Rohan and Abbas start off their music video shooting with Sheetal and make her life miserable by quarreling amongst each other all the time. Varun is upset by this, but looks on dreamy eyed at Sheetal. Ruby comes upto Rohan Abbas who are still preparing for the party whch they say is at 8.30 at Celebrity Disco. Ruby is confused - 'Why did Minu change the party time and venue?', she wonders. Minu is making preparation for her surprise party when Rita reaches there. She tells Minu that perhaps 'she' has a surprise for her. Minu is caught off-guard and is unsure of what Rita meant. She looks on doomed.

Episode 27

Rita comes to Avi to invite him for a party by giving him an impression that Minu is waiting there for him. DC is shocked to see Divya enter the bar and order her usual drink. When he is about to go away in disgust, she catches hold of his hand and stops him; pours away the drink and says, "cheers to a new beginning', promising she will give up drinking forever. All gather at the party and surprised by its lavishness, especially Ruby who is psyched because she didn't order any of these decorations with Minu. When she sees Avi enter with Rita, she senses trouble and rushes away. At the other end of the ship, Minu has decorated her small little party and waiting. But she gets very depressed as nobody turns up at her party. At the Celebrity Disco, Rita announces that she has thrown this surprise birthday party for Avi and ushers in a huge cake as the lights are switched off. Even as he cuts the cake the lights come on, everyone is surprised to find Minu at the door with Ruby. Rita gives her a victorious look and Minu, unable to control her tears, runs away. Avi is forced to celebrate the party with Rita, dancing in her arms. Ruby rushes to a crying Minu and tells her of Rita's cunning move and how she was conned by it. Though Minu tries to stop her, Ruby rushes away saying she will put everything right. At the party, Rita suddenly remembers that she forgot to get the special gift for Avi and leaves the party. Just then Ruby comes there and whispers into Avi's ears, he too leaves. Avi comes to Minu and after an emotional romantic exchange, takes her to the party. He tells everyone that he was privileged since tonight there were two parties planned for him, one by Rita and one by Minu. He cuts Minu's cake and thanks her. Manali and Eashwaran who were sad till now are ecstatic. Ruby asks Avi and Minu to dance together. As everyone is dancing, Rita comes back. She is shocked to find Avi in Minu's arms and everyone having a good time. She looks completely defeated and angry.

Episode 28

Rita sees Avi and Minu on the deck, looking into each others eyes and talking very romantically. Finally Avi turns to everyone around and proclaims loudly how much he loves Minu. Rita screams and wakes up from her dream. She decides she has to do something to put an end to this Avi-Minu affair. Avi encounters Rita and ties to get the truth out of her about how she sabotaged Minu's party. Finally when he confronts her with the facts, Rita breaks down and, in tears, tells Avi she did all that only she because she wanted Avi to have a grand time on his birthday, not a small little party like what Minu was organizing. Somehow she manages to pacify Avi with her crocodile tears, but she now vows to get even with Minu. DC is surprised by Divya entering with a breakfast trolley the same way as he did with the wine bottles. He is happy when she announces that from now fruit juices and toast would be her breakfast too - and she aspires to be a nice human being like DC. Rohan and Abbas are shooting Sheetal's music video and are getting into an argument everytime with each other. Sheetal is getting frustrated. Finally she calls for a pack up and storms away. Rita comes upto Manav who has been watching Minu do aerobics. She tells him of a plan how he could win Minu over. Though Manav is shocked and reluctant to be part of this dangerous plan, he finally agrees. After the aerobic session, Manav takes Minu to the top deck on the pretext of showing dolphins. Rita in the meanwhile pours soap water at the base of the stairs where a board reads, 'slippery when wet'. When the stage is all set, Manav leads an unsuspecting Minu down the stairs. In a tense climax, even as Minu is approaching the wet patch and Rita is very happy; Sheetal comes there, slips and falls down. Minu looks on horrified. Manav and Rita look at each other as their plan once again goes awry.

Episode 29

Minu is with Sheetal at the ship's clinic and is repentant that Sheetal skid and fell down. Pankaj advises Sheetal complete bedrest for a few days. When Avi hears how Manav saved Minu from skidding and falling on the deck, he sarcastically thanks Manav saying he wished Manav was there to prevent him falling when Avi and Minu were rushing to catch the ship. Even as Rohan and Abbas are cursing their luck, Varun comes there and blasts them for being selfish, thinking only of their music video going bust rather than Sheetal's health. Just then DC comes there and tries to console Rohan-Abbas who look doomed. He whispers a plan to them which excites them tremendously. They rush to Sheetal's bedside to ask her permission. Varun gets more angry, but Sheetal is understanding. She realizes that they want to replace her in the music video and asks who will do it now. It is Divya. But she says she is old to do a music video and they should ask Minu. As Rohan and Abbas excitedly try to convince Minu, Pankaj says that Rita would be better choice. Avi too agrees saying Rita's dynamic personality is better suited for a music video. Minu is very upset and rushes away. Rita smiles victoriously. She goes up to a sad Minu on the deck and insults her saying Minu has no class or style and should stick to her classical dance. She also tells Minu that Avi has demonstrated that he prefers Rita over Minu. Varun tries to help Sheetal, but goofs up by putting toothpaste on her leg instead of the balm; but this endears him to Sheetal more and their romance blooms. Rita goes to Pankaj to seek his blessing for the music video which he gives wholeheartedly. But when she seeks Manali's blessing, Manali turns away. Pankaj says that on behalf of her would-be saas, he blesses Rita. This infuriates Manali who confronts Pankaj and tells him that Rita cannot be their bahu. Pnakaj says that since Avi also prefers Rita, she definitely would his daughter-in-law. He storms away, leaving behind a fuming Manali. Yamini and Eashwaran who are fighting over who is a better groom for Minu : Avi or Manav, are psyched to see a very sullen Minu. When they ask why she is upset, she doesn't say anything. Divya sees this and tells Minu to be brave and that they will find a solution to this.

Episode 30

Even as everyone is proceeding towards the music video location, Avi searches for Minu everywhere but cannot find her on the ship. Nobody seems to have seen her either. Actually at the same time Divya is giving Minu a make-over - changing her hairstyle, make-up and costume. Everyone gathers on the deck to watch the music video shoot. Though initially Rita is unwilling to give an audition, she agrees. Rohan says she is perfect, Abbas says she is pathetic. Even as they bickering, Divya reaches there and tells them that they should look at another candidate. Everyone turns to where she indicates… and lo and behold, a sexy, stylish Minu makes an entry. She sashays across in style. All are psyched. Abbas says she is perfect. Rohan still maintains Rita is better. Divya suggest that everyone vote as to who should do the music video. DC is roped in to count the votes. People start voting. Nitin, Manali, Eashwaran, Manav, Abbas, DC, Divya vote for Minu. Pankaj, Shilpa, Varun, Sheetal, Rohan vote for Rita. Yamini surprises everyone by voting for Rita saying she cannot tolerate her daughter in such skimpy outfits. Minu is announced winner with 7 votes against Rita's 6. But they realize Avi has not voted. When they force him, he votes for Rita, much to Minu's disappointment and Rita's glee. The votes are tied. It is decided that the finalist should be decided by a dance competition. Rita and Minu compete, dancing to a sexy hot song. Minu is confident and dances very well, surprising everyone. Avi too is quite taken up by Minu's looks and dance. He dreams dancing with her. Rita sees Avi looking at Minu dreamily and falters. She falls down and Minu wins. All congratulate Minu as Rita fumes. Avi storms out, but Minu stops him. She tells him that he has always underestimated her and never known her properly. Avi is very upset and moves away and Minu wonders whether she said too much. Next day Avi approaches Minu and tells her that he voted against her only because he didn't want a nice girl like Minu to be doing such a music video. He actually likes and respects her and if she has not understood him after so many days on the ship, there is no point in continuing this relationship. As he leaves, Minu looks on completely shattered and repentant.

Continued...

Synopsis Episodes 31- 39 >> Click here