Around this time of the year, every year, I start to get apprehensive. Christmas is approaching fast. Although my godson knows that I don’t believe in Gods, he’s willing to overlook this shortcoming in exchange for gifts. He’s a ‘liberal conservative’, I guess. And then there’s family. Each year, the sticker shock creeps up.

Then again, it looks like I’m lucky. In the Islamic world, Eid ul-Azha is imminent – and they are running out of sacrificial animals:

“This year, the average price of a “qurbani” or sacrificial animal begins from 20,000 Pakistani rupees onwards and goes up to a princely sum of Rs 16 lakh – an amount that has left several appalled, considering a brand new car in Pakistan will cost only about Rs 7 lakh.”

Ouch. A new car? It gets even worse. As the India Times repors:

“It is not uncommon for animals to be stolen or abducted in the days leading to Eid. In Karachi, where extortion is rampant in some areas, people who bring home sacrificial animals may even have to pay money to mafia to keep them safe.

This year alone, two animals were shot dead by extortionists after their owners from Kharadar and Ranchore Lines area refused to pay them ransom.”

Boy, and I thought I went through hell last year trying to get my godson a popular toy. After reading the above, I’m positively looking forward to an abduction-less shopping season where the greatest danger to my life are the Maroni vendors.