So... it's been a while... a bit too long if I'm being completely honest, but things have been beyond hectic on the study front and I apologise for this very delayed update. Also as invested as I am in this particular journey, there has been another idea that has been plaguing me constantly, that I have finally gotten down, so please check that out if you have some spare time - it's called 'Turning back the Pages' and involves a guilt-ridden Omkara finding himself back in time to Bareilly where it all went wrong, equipped with the knowledge of Gauri's innocence and Svetlana's raaz, what will he change?
Anyway, enough of that and onto the next instalment of Changed. On a personal level I really, genuinely, have come to understand the phrase Home is where the Heart is' this year, as for the very first time in my life I am living away from my parents - and no matter how much I joke about my new found freedom and independence, it sucks. Four walls are easy to find, but how do you manufacture the warmth of a home? This part of Changed is for everyone who has ever found themselves missing home.
Gauri
Aadya was finally back to sleep after drinking her milk and a lot of rocking and tears. Gauri heaved a sigh of relief as she placed her down. She was not usually a fussy baby, but today something seemed to make her restless, as if she was crying out for something in particular and no amount of soothing from her worried mother could comfort her. It was finally through her favourite lodi that the infant's eyes began to droop. Gauri had held her close to her chest, swaying backwards and forwards, singing the now familiar song.
It had been more than a chore getting her down to sleep, but now that Aadya was outside of her arms, Gauri could not help the inexplicable feeling of bereavement that crept up on her. Despite her baby still being within reach and knowing that lifting her again would disturb her slumber, Gauri felt a strange yearning to hold her close again. In her life Gauri had been the owner of very few valuable things, but that never bothered her because she had come to the realisation that the most expensive trinkets could never overshadow the presence of a loved one and Aadya was the only person she could truly call her own. Seeing her so comfortable in HIS arms today had awoken a possessiveness in her that all logic had been unable to tame until she had her little girl back in the safety of her own grasp. No, it was not that Gauri felt he had meant any harm to her daughter. She had initially been enveloped in fear of OmkaraJi releasing his hate for her on her daughter, but knowing his love for children and the secure way in which he held onto her, Gauri was grudgingly aware that he posed no threat to Aadya. Instead it was a rather immature insecurity that made her hesitant to leave her daughter's side. Today, the person who had ripped her vishwaas to threads...the man who had stolen so much from her already... today, he had laid claim upon Aadya as if she was as much his as she was hers - and that terrified Gauri. Who did he think he was storming into their lives and declaring his rights on them? Well if he thought she would just roll over and hand him control, then he had another thing coming. She was no longer his devoted wife, who would pander to all his nonsensical demands.
Gauri moved to go to sleep herself, knowing that Aadya would awaken hungry in a few hours and that little rest would be in store for her after that. Omkara Singh Oberoi would not have any impact on their routine - she would not allow it. And so the mother-daughter duo slept unaware that an integral part of both of their lives lay sleepless in wait of the morning when he could rejoin his girls.
Omkara
Rudra was unbelievable... It had taken Omkara more than half an hour to convince his younger brother not to come racing down here instead of finishing his exams. Rudy had been overjoyed to hear that his O had found his Chulbul Bhabhi and even more excited to find that he was now a Chachu. In fact he had only stopped jumping on the other end of the phone, when he decided he needed to place online orders for all the toys his niece would no doubt require. Omkara realised it had been too long since Rudy had behaved so childishly around him and that he had really missed his little brother. When he had distanced himself from all the things which gave him joy, he had unintentionally hurt his Ru and his refusal to let him help in the search for Gauri had misled Rudra into believing that Omkara did not want her to return and the crack in their relationship had become a chasm. OSO had been no brother to Rudra and it was only now that he had regained his title of O, but their talks were not emotional for long as Rudra quickly moved to advising his older brother on the most effective ways of placating his wife. Shaking his head, Omkara could still not believe that Rudy thought evoking her jealousy was a wise idea at this juncture - he wanted to bring her home, not convince her that he was not trustworthy. But still, his harebrained schemes were still more digestible than Shivaay and Anika Bhabhi's (they were blissfully together at this point, but only time would tell how long it would take for a new raita to spread), who had advised him to use some taddi' in his bid to win Gauri back - as if she needed another reason to slap him into a wall, Omkara chuckled.
The ideas all came with his best interest at heart, but he had already decided on his course of action. He could not convince her with words - the time for that had long passed. All the things they needed to discuss would be dealt with, but only after he had won her back. There was only one way about it. Omkara Singh Oberoi was going to be the best husband that Gauri Omkara Singh Oberoi could ever imagine. He would fulfil all his duties and expect nothing in return - no he would not don a costume like Chulbul, but he would act only for her interests, prioritising her above all else. With a heavy heart Omkara had noted how much weight she had lost in these past few years and the tired look on her face was visible for all to see. Gauri had not been taking good care of herself and he needed to rectify that immediately. Sleep evaded him that night as he pondered on how he could possibly begin to chip away at the hostility with which Gauri viewed him.
The first step of course would be to move into her little home - he knew his wife too well to even consider that she would move in with him. All it had taken was one phone call and the papers were ready. Mentally he apologised for the grievance he would inflict upon her temporarily, but it was all so he could eventually give her a lifetime of happiness. The village he had bought for her would serve as the means of getting closer to her as he was her new landlord and her rental agreement meant that she could not relocate for a period of two more years - a naive step from her to sign such a contract, but he supposed even after all this time Gauri still believed in the good of strangers. Life had been unkind to his wife, who was an innocent soul in the midst of vultures, but Omkara swore that he would protect the light that still glowed within her. He would ensure that his daughter would grow with that light too.
Gripping a pillow close to his chest, Omkara wished for morning to arrive so he could return home... return to his heart... after all 'Home is where the Heart is'... (was gonna leave it there but I thought you guys have waited too long for something so short)
Gauri and Omkara
As the village awoke for their daily chores, Gauri was already well into her routine, busy at the sewing machine whilst Aadya amused herself in her cot nearby. The baby had never cried due to the noise of the machine or interrupted her mother when she was very busy, almost as though she knew that they relied on this work for a living, instead she kept quiet and observed her surroundings, but Gauri absentmindedly noted as she cooed at her whilst changing the thread, that she seemed to be looking for something in particular.
"Hamari Aadya kya dhund rahi hai? Kya chahiye usse? What is my Aadya looking for? What does she want?" Gauri asked the baby indulgently, but the answer came from the now open doorway.
"Hamari Aadya apne Papa koh dhund rahi hai. Hai na, Princess? Dekho Papa aagaye. Our Aadya is looking for her Papa. Right, Princess? Look, Papa is here." Omkara was addressing Aadya but kept his eyes on Gauri's shocked features. When the old landlord of the house had dropped of the keys this morning, Omkara could not contain himself and headed straight over, forsaking knocking and entering using his own key.
"A-Aap andar kaise aaiye? Darwaza bandh tha. H-How did you enter? The door was locked." Gauri had made sure to always keep her doors locked, cautious of some of the ill-intentioned men of the village.
"Woh kya hai na Baby, aisa koi thaala banaa nahin joh mujhe tumse dhoor rakhpaaye. The thing is Baby, there is no lock that can keep me from you." Omkara had the audacity to wink at her rapidly heating face - only she was flushing redding out of anger not delight. "Mazaak tha Baby, relax. Ab jab main tumhara Landlord hoon, toh ghar ki chaabi toh mere paas hi hogi. It was a joke Baby, relax. Now that I am your Landlord, I will obviously have the house key."
"Landlord? Aap ne ghar kareed liya?! You bought the house?!" Gauri was outraged.
Omkara moved forward to pick up his daughter, who was now wriggling as though she wanted to be held. Cradling her head he held Aadya against his chest and turned to face her mother, who seemed to be boiling with rage.
"Nahin Baby. Ghar nahin, maine toh pura gaaon kareed liya. No Baby. Not the house, I bought the entire village." Omkara ducked his head to kiss his daughter's forehead in a bid to stifle his laugh at the way Gauri spluttered in reaction.
"KYA?! WHAT?!" Gauri could not believe her ears, no way had he gone to such extremes. What the hell was he doing buying a village? How could he even afford- Wait. Why did she even care? It was not her business what he spent his money on. All she cared about was that he was in HER village, in HER house, holding HER daughter and calling HER BABY.
"Machine par baithe baithe tumhare kaan kharaab hoge hain, Baby? Maine kaha ke- Have your ears gotten damaged from sitting on the machine, Baby? I said that-" Omkara was about to repeat his previous statement but she held up her hand.
"Pehli baat - humme baby mat bolaaye, hum aapki koi aulaad nahin hai! Dusri baat - aap joh bhi kareedein, humme usse kya? Humne aapse pehle bhi kaha hai, hamari beti se dhoor rahiye! First thing - don't call me baby, I am no offspring of yours! Second thing - whatever you buy, what is it to me? I have told you previously also, stay away form my daughter!" Gauri moved forward to take Aadya off him and he did not attempt to stop her, fearing the baby could get hurt in a tussle.
"Tumhi ne toh poocha. Main toh bas jawaab de raha tha. Waise bhi tum kaam mein busy thi, toh tum woh karo aur Aadya koh main sambhalta hoon. You are the one who asked. I was just giving you the anwer. Anyways you were busy in work, so you do that and I will look after Aadya." Smiling he made to extract her from Gauri's arms but she turned away from him and walked in the opposite direction.
"Jee nahin. Aap apne kaam se kaam rakhiye- No need. You keep to your own business." Gauri was interrupted by Aadya's loud wails. The baby struggled in her arms with surprising force. Forgetting Omkara's presence the mother focused instead on her daughter. "Kya hua Aadya? Arre... arre... What happened Aadya? Hey... hey..." But Aadya would not quiet and after a few minutes she was close to tears herself, unsuccessful in soothing her baby, and knowing she was beginning to run behind and her customers would not be pleased.
Unable to see tears in either of their eyes Omkara strode forward and took the baby with all the right of a father. It seemed she had been calling out for him as Aadya relaxed in his arms, content to look up at him.
"Shaanth hojao Gauri. Isse main sambhalta hoon, tum fikar mat karo. Tum apna kaam karo. Calm down Gauri. I will handle her, you don't worry. Do your work." Omkara walked around holding Aadya, not wanting her to cry again.
Gauri wanted to argue, desperate to prove that she could do without him, but she needed to finish these clothes for an upcoming wedding function and as all the village relied on her she could not lag behind, also more importantly he had done her a major favour by stopping her baby's tears so she would bear his presence for the time being.
And so, the mother worked away as the father-daughter duo spent a little time together, all content in the quietness of that morning. The anger and pain - the overwhelming guilt - was not forgotten but merely pushed to the side for the betterment of their child. There were still many fights to be had - many walls to built and broken down. But for now, there was peace in the little household.
How was it? Please leave a comment and let me know.😊
