AN: Can you guys believe it?!! An update! From me?! An update for Changed... I can literally feel the disbelief 😂.

I jokingly challenged my friends on twitter for a summary of the story so far in order to receive an update, and surprisingly @Sh_aarohi obliged (I did not think anyone would actually do it). Since it's been so long, if you've forgotten then check out her summary first:

https://twitter.com/arohicreations/status/1066537704161140736

So let's look at the difference between real happiness and a facade of the same. The Oberois live in the lap of luxury, but it is in the humble home occupied by Gauri and Aadya that Omkara tastes true joy.

There is a bit of a cross-over starting from this chapter... hope it's well-received.

Warning: Sarcasm and bashing is part and parcel of my writing when it comes to certain flawed characters. If it seems distasteful then please avoid reading anything about these individuals.

Money cannot buy happiness. A simple concept.

The Oberois are well educated people, yet they lack this basic understanding. People would think they are simply impossibly arrogant, but the truth is that these people are in fact just ignorant. Ignorant of their reality, because they see themselves through the same rose-tinted glass that they wish the world to see them through. Perhaps they could have overcome this lack of insight had it not been for the fools surrounding them. Unfortunately, the Oberois are surrounded 24/7 by crazy individuals who laude their mistakes and crib and cry whenever they show any character growth and attempt to apologise for their numerous wrongs. Yes, I'm talking about the Oberois' fans. In particular, the most obsessive and possessive of the lot - the fans of Shivaay and Anika.

These guys are not to be messed with folks. They are dedicated to filling the Oberois' heads with delusions, ones of grandeur and heroism, when really they are just being unnecessarily foolish. Luckily for us Gauri abandoned this mad-house and now Omkara has followed her too, or our tale would be one about the valour of the eldest brother and his utter failures in love, still it is only right to take a glance back at those hallowed halls (TBH Gul's budget is such that these characters can only function in the Oberoi Mansion, they don't have any scenes elsewhere), away from the natural beauty of the Kashmiri Mountains.

The tired servants had just completed taking down the decorations from ShivIka's 1200th wedding and were eager to remove them from Shivaay's sight before he decided to go for 1201. For fear of having to bleach the marble of the main hallway again, they also made sure that no red paint was anywhere in the vicinity. As they worked briskly in hiding away the artificial flowers for next time, two of the maids began their favourite hobby, idle chitchat.

"Kya yaar, shaadi kar karke thaktha nahin yeh aadmi? " Khushi mumbled to Payal's ear.

"Shaadi tak toh teekh hai, par paint wali suhaag raat karna toh bandh kare. Kuch toh sharam honi chahiye. Pichli baar toh Dadi koh laga ke hoon zameen par para hua hai. Cheekh rahin thi woh, 'itna sab kuch hogaya, aur humein patah tak nahin chala!' "Payal whispered back, her nose wrinkled in disgust.

"Iss ghar mein Rudy Bhaiyya keh sivaa, sab pagal hain. Haan woh thoda kam sochte hain, par apne rishtedaaron se toh behetar hain. " Khushi carefully folded the garland in her hands.

"Kaash yahan par Gauri Bhabhi hoti... Woh kitni achi thi. Pehle Chulbul bankar hamara haath bataathi thi, aur phir iss ghar ki official bahu bankar bhi humein dost maanthi thi. Kabhi kitchen bighaar ke hamare liye nahin chodthi thi. Izaat karthi thi hamari. Humein parivaar samajhthi thi... woh jaanthi thi keh ek kushaal parivaar paise se nahin, balki pyaar aur izaat se bantha hai. " Payal sighed as she remembered the cheerful spirit who always tried to brighten their day. Payal and Khushi were cousins who had come to Mumbai from Lucknow to escape a terrible fate. They had found a kinship with the Dabbang Chiraiyya who had been the first in the city to smile brightly at them. Later they had found that her past somewhat mirrored theirs and a strong bond of friendship had formed.

Khushi shook her head.

"Nahin Jiji. Yeh jagah... yeh log, uske liye teekh nahin the... Hum uske liye khush hain. Hamari chirraiya azaad hogayi. " Khushi had a wistful look on her face, even as tears glazed her eyes.

"Aur Omkara Bhaiyya... Unka kya? " Payal studied her cousin sister's face carefully. She had used the name of the middle Oberoi son, but her question had been about another man.

"Kuch kahiniyan adhoori hi rehjaati hain... " Khushi's hand unintentionally swept up to her necklace... the only keepsake she had of him. "Kuch pyaar binna naam keh hi hote hain... "

Before the conversation could continue Pinki passed by them and scolded them for not working fast enough. Wanting to avoid a verbal lashing from the sour woman before them, the girls scrambled to complete their job. Out of the corner of her eye, Payal watched her Chutki. Khushi had her ever-present smile plastered onto her face, but her eyes carried a sadness beyond her eighteen years. Her little sister had made the choice not to run to him in her time of need, but Payal was still questioning whether she had made the right decision. In this house where happiness was artificially painted over the misery clinging to the walls, the importance of love shone brightest. These people were not happy and refused to let anyone around them be happy. Gauri had escaped this fate. Yes, Chutki was right... their chiraaiya was free.

Gauri had the ability to make a house a home. Omkara had felt it all that time ago, when the presence of Chulbul had drawn him back home earlier every evening, when the unspoken desire to get a glance at her beauty had kept him away from his studio and instead idling around the hallways he had always hated to occupy. Even in his hatred and ignorance she had managed to give him a sense of home. He could describe it now. That feeling of being at home. It was a feeling of being content. Content is tangible. Don't argue with him, that feeling is 100% tangible. He can touch it. It's in the moment he holds onto Aadya, it's in the split second brush of Gauri's hand as she takes the baby from him. It's overwhelming as he watches her put the baby to bed. It's compelling as he watches her fight of a yawn herself. And it's heart breaking when she asks him to leave.

With fire in her eyes, she demands his departure. With regret in his own Omkara lays down the rules. It's cheap, it feels dirty, but it's the only way to win her back.

I could write out the conversation, but I find myself deleting it like Omkara wishes to delete it from his memory. Because it's wrong. To use her financial situation in order to bulldoze her into giving in to his demands is plain wrong. But he does. He does it because he wants this family. He wants his family and for that he needs to make her listen. When she's ready to do that, he will lose this veil of power - for he has none. Not anymore. This time it's her way... he's just trying to earn a chance to atone his sins... change for the better. So five shameful minutes later he has secured himself the couch to sleep on. We won't dwell on what was said, only that it was all for the greater good as horrible as that sounds.

Despite his guilt at his own shamelessness, Omkara slept well that night. He slept content. With his family close his dreams were no longer plagued with her shadow... they were light with the promise of a better tomorrow.

Despite her anger at her own hopelessness, Gauri slept well that night. She had given her all to firm herself against any fear, but some nights had been terrifyingly lonely. Even with Aadya close by the fear had not diminished - in fact it had increased, for she had something precious to protect. But tonight she felt... protected... As if someone was there to share the burden with her. Yes she would glare at him tomorrow with all her might... but for tonight she was glad that every sound would not set her on alert. Horrific as he had been to her, this man had protected her and she knew he would do so now too.

Despite the tension surrounding her due to her own parents, Aadya slept well that night. Mama was here. Papa was here. It would all be all right.

Despite this writer's lack of updates, let's leave this happy family to sleep well this night, without worrying about when they will next awaken.