For Love of Aidana Soraya (Paperback)

In a place of mixed religious beliefs, JONATHAN, a man of entrenched Hindu origins is battling through the trauma of watching his Muslim wife, AIDANA SORAYA, whom he has loved dearly from childhood, slip away, a victim of incurable cancer. Her wish is to be buried in her family plot at the Islamic Cemetery adjoining the Mosque of the Village of Elysee. But since their marriage, things have not been pleasant for them among Hindus or Muslim who are both equally resentful of the religious crossover. And although Aidana Soraya never did relinquish her Islamic faith by marriage to Jonathan, she is shunned virulently by influential members of the Muslim community. Jonathan decides to approach IMAM KASSIM, a person both he and Aidana Soraya grew up with, for permission to bury his wife in her family plot next to the Mosque. Meanwhile, the Hindus suspicious that refusal by the Muslims might mean the woman's husband would ask for her to be buried in the Hindu cemetery, become nervous and hostile. PANDIT NEHAL is amenable to the possibility of Aidana Soraya being buried in the Hindu Cemetery but many of his flock, including his wife SAVITRI, are up in arms over the issue. The Christians realize that, if both the Hindus and the Muslims refuse to accept Aidana Soraya's body, then JONATHAN might come calling on them. They are reluctant to permit her burial in their cemetery and think she should be interred in the Pauper's Field instead. But Jonathan is a smoldering man who is determined and has set the wheels in motion to see that his wife's last wish is met. Unknown to him, he has staunch supporters among the Hindus, Muslims and Christians as well. And he has a most unlikely guardian angel riding out to his rescue. The five days that follow see a village torn by personal clashes and outrage as well as by their humanity, basic goodness and sense of fair play. In the end Jonathan buries his wife in the Muslim cemetery, and the Village of Elysee comes to know and understand the meaning of love and compassion. And they find their humanity in a resounding, redeeming and uplifting way.