Pregnant women should not go outside during a solar or lunar eclipse, as it is believed to cause harm

Scene:
Two friends, Anu and Meera, are sitting on the balcony in Chennai, sipping filter coffee. The next day there’s a lunar eclipse.

---

Anu: (worriedly)
“Meera, you know there’s a lunar eclipse tomorrow night, right? You have to tell your cousin Riya not to step outside! She’s pregnant! It’s dangerous!”

Meera: (chuckling)
“Oh God, Anu, not you too! Come on, the moon isn’t throwing daggers at us. It’s just the Earth blocking sunlight. Poor Riya can enjoy the moonlight if she wants!”

Anu: (serious face)
“No, no, Meera! It’s not about daggers. It’s tradition. My grandmother says babies can be born with deformities if pregnant women see the eclipse. Why risk it? Just stay indoors!”

Meera: (grinning)
“By that logic, every country where lunar eclipses are visible should have hospitals overflowing with mutant babies! Have you heard any scientific study saying ‘Eclipse Babies’ are a thing?”

Anu: (thinking)
“Maybe scientists don’t know everything. Grandparents have wisdom passed down for generations. Isn’t that worth something?”

Meera: (nodding)
“I agree that traditions often have some wisdom. Like avoiding certain foods when pregnant — that’s practical. But hiding from the moon? Anu, during an eclipse, nothing changes on Earth physically. Gravity stays the same. Radiation stays the same. It’s literally just a shadow!”

Anu: (half-smiling)
“But my aunt covered all the mirrors and food last eclipse! Even the pickle jars!”

Meera: (laughing)
“Pickle jars! Poor pickles. What did they ever do to the moon? Look, ancient people didn’t have scientific explanations. They saw the sky change colors, animals behave weirdly… it scared them. So they made rules to protect pregnant women. Totally understandable back then. But now we have… you know, Google.”

Anu: (reluctantly chuckling)
“True, Google does know a lot. But still…what if something bad happens? Even if there’s 0.01% chance?”

Meera: (gently)
“If you’re so worried, tell Riya not to do dangerous stuff tomorrow — like climbing ladders or fighting off wild monkeys. But not stepping outside because of the moon? That’s giving the moon way too much credit. It’s just minding its own business.”

Anu: (grinning)
“Mind your own business, moon! Poor thing. Fine, but can she at least cover her belly with a shawl? You know, just in case?”

Meera: (laughing hard)
“Sure! If it makes you happy, she can wear two shawls and a helmet! But seriously, let’s not scare her. Stress is actually harmful for the baby. Shadows and moonlight are not.”

Anu: (smiling warmly)
“You always ruin my dramatic plans with logic, Meera.”

Meera: (raising coffee cup)
“That’s what friends are for! To stop you from pickling the pickles unnecessarily.”

Anu: (laughing)
“Okay okay, tomorrow we’ll celebrate the lunar eclipse with Riya. Maybe eat some of that unharmed pickle.”

Meera: (winking)
“Deal! And we’ll salute the poor, innocent moon!”