Respite

I know I'm not the only one whose nostrils were invaded by the smell that manifests itself during this year's Eid-ul-Adha. I live on the 10th floor of my building and even then, I couldn't escape the nauseating combination of raw meat and bleaching powder. Our area was supposed to have all the cattle sacrificed near a specified area but, unsurprisingly, no one adhered to the protocol. Instead we had blood everywhere, from our elevators to the sidewalks. I wouldn't have even dared to venture outside had it not been for my routine of delivering meat and beef biriyani to my relatives all throughout the day. All in all, Eid was business as usual. Spend the day with family, meet up with friends in the evening, munch down on delicious delicacies, and sleep for 12 hours. This time of the year truly does offer proper respite from our hectic schedules, regardless of the smell. 

- Shahrukh Ikhtear, Sub-Editor, SHOUT.