Vishnu Sahasranama ("The Thousands Names of Vishnu"), c. 1690
"The Lady of Lake Superior" is the fifth story in Urdustan (get a copy!).
"The Lady of Lake Superior" is the fifth story in Urdustan (get a copy!).
"The Lady of Lake Superior" is a supernatural/fantasy story about an Indian immigrant's friendship with a supernatural creature. I don't wanna tell you what it is, because then I'd ruin the surprise for you. Just like "Leon, Her Hasidic Jewish Friend," "The Lady of Lake Superior" is a friendship story. It's basically a story about two people that become friends despite differences in cultural, racial, and ethnic boundaries; it even transcends boundaries of a human-supernatural bond. It's a beautiful story, and I felt very close to the characters when I wrote it. I was inspired to write "The Lady of Lake Superior" because I have some friends from the Upper Peninsula. The story is set in the U.P. The U.P Is located in Northern Michigan, which is shaped like a fish.
click on the map above to see the whole version. Lake Superior is located right above the U.P, shaped like a "fish."
My Native American friend, an Ojibway, grew up in the Upper Peninsula. He told me stories about Lake Superior. It is the world's largest freshwater lake. He says that many people believe there's a secret tribe hiding out on an island in the middle of Lake Superior. He even claimed that he went there to look for the mysterious tribe and he found some mocassins and smoke coming out of the woods. I became interested in Lake Superior so I chose it as a setting for this supernatural/fantasy story. It is breathtaking, and I always imagine my Ojibway friend's stories when I close my eyes and I think of the lake.
The story features the main character, who had just emigrated to the United States from India. He came on a work visa to work as a chef at an Indian restaurant owned by a white hippie couple. His name is Vishnu Arshad. Vishnu Arshad is a Hindu-Muslim name. Any Indian who reads that name out loud will immediately know that Vishnu Arshad was born to a Hindu mother and a Muslim father. He is half Hindu, half Muslim, born and raised Hindu-Muslim. It's not uncommon or unheard in Indian society, but it's not exactly that common, either. He was named after Lord Vishnu. If you are familiar with Hindu deities, you'd know that Lord Vishnu has different Avatar (Incarnations). One of his Avatar happens to be present in this story.
This story, unfortunately, does not have a happy ending. In the story, someone dies. Sometimes, life isn't always so happy and beautiful. Unfortunate things happen, because that's just how life is. "The Lady of Lake Superior" may be a fantasy story with supernatural elements, but it's much more realistic than some fake-ass, feel-good stories between human beings where nothing bad ever happens. Who does Vishnu Arshad become friends with? Who dies in the story? What happens when the character dies? Find out and buy a copy of Urdustan.
NEXT WEEK: "LOVE AND DEATH IN AL-MADINAH" (the sixth story in Urdustan)
click on the map above to see the whole version. Lake Superior is located right above the U.P, shaped like a "fish."
My Native American friend, an Ojibway, grew up in the Upper Peninsula. He told me stories about Lake Superior. It is the world's largest freshwater lake. He says that many people believe there's a secret tribe hiding out on an island in the middle of Lake Superior. He even claimed that he went there to look for the mysterious tribe and he found some mocassins and smoke coming out of the woods. I became interested in Lake Superior so I chose it as a setting for this supernatural/fantasy story. It is breathtaking, and I always imagine my Ojibway friend's stories when I close my eyes and I think of the lake.
The story features the main character, who had just emigrated to the United States from India. He came on a work visa to work as a chef at an Indian restaurant owned by a white hippie couple. His name is Vishnu Arshad. Vishnu Arshad is a Hindu-Muslim name. Any Indian who reads that name out loud will immediately know that Vishnu Arshad was born to a Hindu mother and a Muslim father. He is half Hindu, half Muslim, born and raised Hindu-Muslim. It's not uncommon or unheard in Indian society, but it's not exactly that common, either. He was named after Lord Vishnu. If you are familiar with Hindu deities, you'd know that Lord Vishnu has different Avatar (Incarnations). One of his Avatar happens to be present in this story.
This story, unfortunately, does not have a happy ending. In the story, someone dies. Sometimes, life isn't always so happy and beautiful. Unfortunate things happen, because that's just how life is. "The Lady of Lake Superior" may be a fantasy story with supernatural elements, but it's much more realistic than some fake-ass, feel-good stories between human beings where nothing bad ever happens. Who does Vishnu Arshad become friends with? Who dies in the story? What happens when the character dies? Find out and buy a copy of Urdustan.
NEXT WEEK: "LOVE AND DEATH IN AL-MADINAH" (the sixth story in Urdustan)
