Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James) is to be strip searched for drugs in EastEnders next week.
The horrifying moment comes after running into an old face – Marvin, a lad who sold her vapes last year.
Knowing that her pal Lily Slater (Lillia Turner) is struggling with the grief faced from losing her father figure Martin Fowler (James Bye), Avani thinks up a plan to cheer her up.
With Amy Mitchell (Ellie Dadd), the trio decide to skip school and embark on somewhat of an adventure.
Avani’s mum Priya (Sophie Khan Levy) soon spots the girls skiving, but when she understands the circumstances surrounding Lily, she decides to turn a blind eye.
They soon bump into Marvin, who has a supply of drugs on him. Although reluctant to take anything, the police soon arrive and they’re caught bunking off.
As the coppers approach them, they notice a bag of pills that Marvin has dropped, and take them to the station for further questioning.
Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) and Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) arrive separately to collect their respective youngsters, but nobody is on hand to answer a call regarding Avani.
The situation only worsens when the officers explain that a strip search is needed to ensure she isn’t concealing anymore narcotics.
Terrified by the situation, she refuses the offer of an appropriate adult in the room and allows two female staff to search her.
Back in Albert Square, Jean tips off Suki Panesar-Unwin (Balvinder Sopal) about the unfolding matter, and she darts over to be with her Avani – who is clearly troubled by the day’s events.
After refusing to allow Suki to lodge a formal complaint, they head home and an argument soon breaks out between the pair when Priya is branded a bad mother.
Priya then learns of what has happened, and rages at Jack for his former colleagues’ treatment of her daughter.
Lily and Amy are in disbelief at how badly things escalated for their friend after they left, leaving Avani embarrassed. In a fit of rage, she lashes out at Suki and Amy.
The family become deeply concerned for the teen when they notice her crumbling, and instead of returning home to dad Ravi’s (Aaron Thiara) house, she heads to the playground and swigs from a bottle of vodka.
Later, her parents discover she is missing and are mortified to find that she has passed out in the playground.
Avani goes to the doctor for a check-up, with Ravi soon realising that something is badly wrong. Soon, Suki tells him the truth.
Will Avani be ok?
