Scene: Evening in Madurai. Two friends, Arjun and Karthik, are sitting on the verandah sipping chai. Karthik has just noticed Arjun stopping his mother from sweeping the floor.
Karthik:
(raising an eyebrow)
“Da Arjun, what was that? You stopped aunty from sweeping? It’s just a broom, not a missile launch.”
Arjun:
(defensively)
“Machan, it’s sunset already! Sweeping after sunset drives away prosperity. Goddess Lakshmi will leave the house, da!”
Karthik:
(laughs, shaking his head)
“Enna da, you make it sound like Lakshmi amma is sitting at the doorstep, waiting for you to mishandle the broom so she can storm off!”
Arjun:
(grinning but serious)
“I’m telling you, this is traditional knowledge. Our elders didn’t say all this simply for fun. There’s meaning behind it.”
Karthik:
(teasing)
“Meaning? Next you’ll say if I sneeze before leaving the house, my whole day is cursed!”
Arjun:
(pointing dramatically)
“That also is true, da! You don’t know. Once I sneezed before my final exam… physics paper only… full confusion happened. I forgot Newton’s second law!”
Karthik:
(laughing harder)
“Ayyo! So Newton’s law failed because of your nose? Poor fellow must be turning in his grave!”
Arjun:
(chuckling but serious)
“Jokes aside, machi, these beliefs have kept our homes and lives disciplined. Sweeping at night — you might sweep away small valuables in the dark. Coins, earrings… not visible properly.”
Karthik:
(nodding thoughtfully)
“That actually makes sense logically. In olden days, when there was no electricity, sweeping at night meant losing valuable things by accident. So they wrapped it in a story about Lakshmi leaving — to scare people into being careful.”
Arjun:
(grinning)
“Exactly! So even if it sounds superstitious, it has roots in common sense.”
Karthik:
“But then da, in 2025, when we have LED lights brighter than the sun inside our houses, and Roombas cleaning the floor, does it still make sense to fear Lakshmi amma leaving?”
Arjun:
(pretending to whisper dramatically)
“Why take a chance, da? Better to be safe than sorry. What if she’s still touchy about it?”
Karthik:
(laughing)
“I’ll send her a WhatsApp message: ‘Dear Lakshmi amma, house sweeping happening under 50-watt light, valuables safe. Please stay.’ Problem solved.”
Arjun:
(bursting into laughter)
“I swear you’ll go straight to hell one day with all this mockery.”
Karthik:
(smiling)
“No machan, seriously. Traditions are valuable. But if we understand the real reason behind them, we can evolve. Otherwise, we’ll end up scared of brooms, sneezes, and crows sitting on the gate.”
Arjun:
(half convinced)
“True da… but still, you know… emotional attachment is there. When you grow up hearing your grandmother saying ‘don’t sweep after sunset’, it sticks. Even if logic says otherwise.”
Karthik:
(patting Arjun’s shoulder)
“Understandable. Respect the sentiment, but don’t let fear run your life. Believe in Lakshmi amma, but also believe that she’s not going to run off just because you swept one cobweb.”
Arjun:
(sighs, laughing)
“Okay okay. Maybe I’ll allow a little sweeping after sunset — but only under your supervision!”
Karthik:
(grinning)
“Deal. I’ll bring my LED torch, Lakshmi insurance policy, and scientific temperament.”
[They clink their chai cups together and laugh.]
Science Vs Superstition 
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