The Slap Episode 1.06 Aisha

At Aisha's clinic, a delicate situation emerges when she discovers that a patient has contracted HIV, and before she can relay the diagnosis, he sneaks out of the clinic. This oddity coincides with Connie's last day and her awkward exit leaves Aisha sensing that something is amiss - a feeling compounded by Harry's lawyer Thanasis' insistence that she testify as a character witness in the forthcoming trial. Aisha's testimony would be coupled with an arranged community award for Harry, all meant to rebuild his image. She declines to commit, citing Rosie as her best friend.

When an opportunity arises to attend a medical conference in Boston, Aisha seizes it, eager to place some distance between her and the constant pressures at home. She finds respite in fellow doctor (and former lover) Ajay, and they meet for dinner that night. He quickly identifies her state of unhappiness and she describes the current crisis involving Hector, Harry and the whole Apostolou family. Should she lie to keep the peace with the family or risk dividing her family to support her best friend? As a twice-divorced man, Ajay advises her to side with her family. The moment of vulnerability leads to the two former lovers holding hands at the table... and, at Aisha's request, disrobing in Ajay's hotel room. Before it goes too far, however, Aisha discovers a wedding ring in Ajay's pocket - and promptly exits without a word.

Meanwhile, Hector learns from Anouk that Connie plans to testify for Rosie. He seeks out Connie to urge her not to testify, but she notices his fear - and revels in it. This experience sends Hector to Manolis, to whom he confesses his flirtation with Connie; Manolis reveals he suspected it all along. His father lends him support, but wisely suggests Hector get ahead of the melee that will follow once Connie reveals the nature of their relationship.

The next morning, Aisha checks out of the hotel in Boston and shares a last moment with an apologetic Ajay. But as they part ways, she spots a total surprise in the lobby: Hector. He whisks her away for an impromptu date at an art gallery, and Aisha suspects an ulterior motive... that Hector confirms when he confesses to the kiss between him and Connie. Aisha reacts with frustration and anger - why would he even tell her this? She ends the tirade by declaring him a coward.

As they drive home to New York, Aisha instructs Hector to pull over; she reveals that she's lied to him before too - as far back as the night he and Aisha met. She and Ajay engaged in an all-night party that involved alcohol, drugs and sex - not a long night at the clinic saving lives like she led Hector to believe. It was Hector's decency that saved her from a different life... and now that decency appears to be in question.

A similar feeling creeps over Gary when Rosie interrupts an artistic conversation between him and Ritchie and attempts to parlay their connection into a perusal of the photos Ritchie took at Hector's barbecue. Her knowledge of the photos alarms Ritchie, but Gary reacts with rage, stating that he no longer recognizes this version of Rosie, the overzealous parent with a laser focus on Hugo's (debatable) suffering. Later, Gary takes Hugo to a local playground and expresses his own zeal for protecting his son once he notices a photographer - from Harry's defense team? - snapping shots of Hugo. Perhaps Rosie isn't so off base...

Consequences befall Connie, too, once Ritchie returns to school and shows her the cold shoulder. When she confronts him, he ices her with a statement of betrayal - she just removed his right to abstain from participating in the court case. Is that something friends do to each other? He orders her to stay away from him.

Back at the clinic, Aisha deals with the return of the HIV-positive patient until an unlikely visitor interrupts: Sandi. They steal a moment in private and Harry's wife admits to divulging the story behind her scar to Thanasis. Her revelation ensures that the defense will not call Aisha to testify as a character witness. Given all the recent events, Aisha redirects their conversation to forgiveness: how did she manage to stay with Harry after he hit her? Sandi's explanation falls short of total exoneration of her husband, but she in effect states that the good of their marriage far outweighs the bad.

This thought echoes in Aisha's head as she approaches her own doorstep, seconds away from reentering her world as a mother and wife. She pauses out front and watches Hector play with their children through the window... and the moment affects her too much to open the door. Aisha heads back to the sidewalk, her eyes teary and her destination unknown.