[Scene: Outside Manoj’s newly opened mobile accessory shop in Madurai, 9:00 AM. Ravi is walking by and sees Manoj lighting a camphor lamp and looking anxiously at the street.]
Ravi:
Morning, Manoj! Big day, huh? First day of business?
Manoj:
Yes da! Very big day. But I’m tensed. Not because of business… but I’m praying that the first customer is a woman.
Ravi (chuckling):
Why, are women more likely to buy three phone chargers and a selfie stick?
Manoj (serious tone):
Ravi, this is not a joke. Everyone knows it’s lucky if the first sale is to a woman. It sets the tone for the whole day… no, the whole month! My uncle followed this, and his business boomed!
Ravi:
So, if a guy walks in first and buys everything in your shop, you’ll still think it’s unlucky?
Manoj:
Exactly! Money from a man in the morning has no shakti. Women bring prosperity. Even the temples open doors with women lighting lamps first.
Ravi (grinning):
So, what if I dress up in a saree and walk in? Problem solved?
Manoj (laughs but recovers quickly):
Dei! Don’t play with these things. I believe in these customs for a reason. When I helped at my cousin’s textile shop, every time a woman was the first buyer, the shop had record sales. When a man came first, dead day.
Ravi:
Okay, I hear you. But did you ever think maybe those days were busy because it was festival season or payday, and not because of who walked in first?
Manoj:
Still, how do you explain that pattern?
Ravi:
Manoj, we humans are wired to see patterns—even when none exist. It’s called confirmation bias. We remember the times things matched our beliefs and forget the rest. Did you count the days a man came in first and you had a good day?
Manoj (pauses):
Hmm… I don’t remember… but I still feel safer sticking to the tradition.
Ravi:
That’s fair. I get that it gives you comfort. But imagine this—what if a woman comes in, buys something small, and leaves, but ten men come later and buy expensive Bluetooth speakers? Will you still say the day is lucky just because of that first sale?
Manoj:
Of course! The woman opened the door to prosperity.
Ravi:
See? You’re giving all the credit to the first moment and ignoring the rest. That’s like saying your cricket team won because the captain wore his lucky socks—even though it was the bowlers who took 9 wickets.
Manoj (laughing):
Eh, lucky socks are powerful too! Ask Dhoni!
Ravi:
Okay, how about this—I’ll be your first customer today. Let’s do a scientific experiment. I’ll buy something, and we’ll see how the day goes. If you do great business, you can thank logic. If not, you can go back to your tradition tomorrow.
Manoj:
Aiyo, now I’m nervous. What if sales drop because of you?
Ravi:
Then you’ll have hard data to confirm your superstition!
Manoj (grinning):
Fine. But you better buy something nice. No Rs. 10 earphones!
Ravi:
Deal. I’ll take the most overpriced charging cable you have. For science.
[They laugh. Manoj opens the shutter, still slightly uneasy, while Ravi walks in dramatically with folded hands like a temple devotee.]
Manoj:
Let’s see if your science can beat my superstition.
Ravi:
Only one way to find out, Mr. Superstitious!
[Scene fades with both of them chuckling, setting the tone for a friendly tug-of-war between belief and logic.]
Science Vs Superstition 
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