The Guy I Met In College (COMPLETE)

Epilouge

"Priya... can I come in?" Aisha's voice says, muffled, from the other side of the door. I sit up in the bed and struggle slightly due to the size of my stomach. I wipe away the tears that were leaving my eyes and keep the blanket wrapped around me as I respond for her to come in. She walks in a bit hesitantly, looking around the room at everything.
"Priya you need to get washed up," she says walking to my bed.
"I don't want to go," I whisper feeling another stream of tears caress my cheeks.

"I know you don't, but you were his wife," Aisha says with her voice cracking slightly as she reaches my bed.
"I don't want to believe he's actually gone..." I sob holding onto my stomach.
"We saw the explosion... he couldn't have survived, the investigators have been searching for any sign that could lead to him being alive but Priya... there's been nothing and it's been seven months..." Aisha says walking to the side of the bed and sitting down while taking my hand in hers.

"At lest now he's with his family..." I say trying to find one positive, wether it's for me or for him.
"I know you lost him before your little boy could be born, but maybe you will see him in your child," Aisha says smiling lightly. I smile back and look down at my stomach which is now the size of a watermelon. I think about how good of a father Aman would have been as feel another tear leave my eyes landing on the fabric of my shirt. It soaks through my shirt and I feel the wetness touch my skin.
"Do you want me to help you get washed up?" Aisha asks slightly squeezing my hand. I nod my head and she smiles faintly while standing up.

"I'll start running the water, and you get out of bed, your outfit is waiting in the closet," she says while starting towards the bathroom. I sigh and pull the blanket off me and slowly kick my legs over the bed. I wiggle my toes and chuckle lightly because I can't see my feet. I push myself off the bed and stand up holding onto the bed to steady myself from not falling over.

********

"There, you look nice," Aisha says stepping back from me. I turn and look in the mirror at the outfit she's chosen. It is nice.
"Are you ready? Everyone is waiting for you," she says grabbing my attention. I look at her and smile faintly as tears start building in my eyes. She grabs my hand and we walk out of my bedroom together. As we walk down the hallway I see white rose petals on the ground and it reminds me of when I got married to Aman. I continue walking until we get to the elevator, which brought us down to the first floor. When I stepped out, more white rose petals were scattered on the ground.

I felt more tears building in my eyes but I quickly blinked them away as Aisha continued walking with me to the exit. I stop at the threshold when I see everyone waiting for me. I take a deep breath and hold Aisha's hand a bit tighter as we start walking towards everyone. They all smile at me as if it's on instinct. I try to smile back but all I want to do is cry. Aisha starts to let go of my hand as we reach everyone and I continue walking.

"Glad you could join us Priya..." Gene says touching my arm trying to consul me.
"Why wouldn't I," I say feeling saltiness on my tongue realizing that I'm crying.
"We know this is hard for you... losing your parents... and Aman," Courtney says coming over to me and placing her arm around my shoulder. I close my eyes and still see the visual of my parents, dead, shown no mercy. I feel my heart shatter all over again as I try to breathe through the pain.

Has something changed?

"Your lantern is over there, want me to grab it for you?" Alina asks stepping forward. I smile and nod my head, she smiles and walks over to where my lantern sits, not yet lit because I will light it and send it off into the air.
"Here Priya," she says handing me the lantern and backing away.
"Thanks," I say looking at the detail on the lantern and feeling myself start to well up.

Something has definitely changed...

"Do you want me to light it for you?" Aisha asks coming up and standing next to me. I nod my head and lift it slightly so she can light it. When it's lit, the patterns come alive and look beautiful.
"Sir... we will miss you... you recruited all of us to save your daughter, and the mission was a success," Tina says and she sets her lantern up in the sky. Alina and Rajveer set theirs up too watching as they float away.
"Mrs. Malhotra... you helped us all have less nerves for our missions, and you would always make us feel at home... you were the sweetest... we will miss you," Kabir says letting his lantern go into the sky. Melissa and Anjali also set their lanterns into the sky watching as they float away.

What's going on...

"Aman... sir recruited you for this mission, this mission in which you fell in love with Priya... you fought and fought to keep her safe... you gave your life for hers..." Gene says.
"You saved us all more then once, you were the one who we could go to for anything and you loved us like your own family... we loved you, you were such a good friend," Courtney adds.
"When I first met you... you opened your arms for me and became my family... when my husband died, you held me when I cried... you were my best friend... and I loved you immensely..." Aisha adds on as tears leave her eyes.

My baby...

"Aman... the fact that you've left me alone with our baby girl, makes me cry... I loved you with all my heart... you showed me new things, loved me like no other person ever could have... you saved my life, and gave up yours... I knew from day one, since that very first day I saw you in that college... that you were my soulmate... our love story started in that very college... I loved you... and you will always be my husband, my love... The Guy I Met In College..." I say feeling a steady stream of tears leave my eyes.
"We will miss you," Aisha says and let's her lantern go. Then Courtney, then Gene, and finally and I let my lantern go whispering three words, "I love you."

Just walk... why are you so nervous...

We watch the lanterns in the sky, with the sun setting slowly behind them. I feel Aisha grab my hand which helps steady myself because of my baby. I feel a couple tears caress my cheeks and I close my eyes thinking about the good times with Aman.

When he asked me to marry him...
When we were on our honeymoon...
When we got married...
When we would hangout at college...
When I would catch him gazing at me in class...
When he hugged me...
When he kissed me...
When he teased me...
When we danced together for the very first time...
When he would look at me so lovingly...
When I first heard his voice...
When I first saw him...
When we first met...

Stop walking... speak, you idiot!

I open my eyes and see that the lanterns are almost gone in the sky. I smile slightly and look at everyone. We all smile at each other.
"Bring it in," Tina says and we all have a group hug. I close my eyes smiling trying to hug everyone, but my stomach is in the way... suddenly a smell reaches my nose that I know way to well. Then I hear someone clear their throat.

"Can I join?" They say and my eyes pop open. Everyone stops breathing including me. It can't be... I turn around slowly and my heart stops.

"Hi Baby."