[Scene: A tea stall in Madurai. The two friends are sipping hot chai under the shade of a neem tree.]
Ravi: (pulls a Tulsi leaf from his pocket carefully and pops it into his mouth, swallowing it like a pill)
Aaah. Nothing like a Tulsi leaf in the morning. Cleanses the soul. But remember Arjun, never chew it. It’s disrespectful to Goddess Lakshmi. You have to swallow it whole.
Arjun: (chokes slightly on his tea, laughing)
Ravi, you treat that Tulsi like it’s a sacred tablet from some ancient temple. Come on, what’s going to happen if you chew it?
Ravi:
Chewing it brings bad luck! The leaf is considered divine — like biting the goddess herself. My grandmother used to say if you chew Tulsi, you’ll face hardships for 7 lifetimes!
Arjun:
Seven lifetimes? Wow, that’s more intense than a Netflix series. Look, Ravi, I’m not trying to insult tradition. But do you know why that belief even exists?
Ravi: (suspiciously)
Because it’s true?
Arjun:
Not exactly. It’s actually about chemistry. Tulsi leaves contain a compound called eugenol — it gives them that strong clove-like flavor. In some people, chewing raw Tulsi can cause mild irritation in the gums or teeth. Long ago, without scientific understanding, our elders might’ve turned that into a religious rule.
Ravi: (frowning)
So you’re saying all these beliefs are just… old-timey health tips in disguise?
Arjun:
A lot of them, yes! Think about it. “Don’t sleep with your head facing north” — turns out it messes with the earth’s magnetic field and can affect sleep. “Don’t cut nails at night” — makes sense when there was no electricity and people could hurt themselves. Science explains the logic behind many traditions.
Ravi:
Hmm… I still feel weird about chewing Tulsi. I once saw my cousin chew it and the next day he got a parking ticket and food poisoning. Coincidence? I think not.
Arjun: (laughs)
Ravi, by that logic, I sneezed on Tuesday and it rained on Wednesday — am I the rain god now?
Ravi:
Don’t mock me, da! Faith is important too. Not everything can be explained by your science. Some things are divine. You feel it here — (places hand over chest) — not in a microscope.
Arjun:
Fair enough. But wouldn’t the goddess prefer if we used the brain she gave us? Imagine Lakshmi Devi up there going, “These humans are swallowing Tulsi like pills instead of enjoying its antibacterial properties!”
Ravi: (grinning)
You’re imagining gods doing commentary now?
Arjun:
Only when I’m around you. You bring out my mythological stand-up routine.
Ravi:
Still, I’ll keep swallowing. No chewing for me. Just like how I never cross the road when a black cat passes.
Arjun:
Even if it’s a kitten with a limp?
Ravi:
Especially then! That’s double bad luck!
Arjun: (shaking his head with a smile)
Alright Ravi, here’s the deal. You follow your Tulsi tradition. I’ll chew mine and enjoy the taste. If I win the lottery this week, you owe me a whole Tulsi plant.
Ravi:
Deal! But if you lose your job, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
[Both laugh, sipping their tea as a black cat strolls by. Ravi immediately stops sipping and waits. Arjun rolls his eyes.]
[End Scene]
Science Vs Superstition 
Tell Us What You Think