Setting: A sunny afternoon in Lahore, Pakistan. Two friends, Areeba (the superstitious one) and Zoya (the rational thinker), are sitting on the rooftop sipping chai. Birds chirp, distant calls of a vegetable vendor echo in the background. Areeba is scrolling through her phone while Zoya dips a biscuit into her tea.
Areeba: (gasping) Ya Allah! Just look at this photo of Rida’s niece on Instagram — such a gorgeous little girl, and they didn’t even put a black dot on her forehead. Do they want her to get nazar lag jaye?
Zoya: (laughing) Maybe they didn’t have a marker nearby?
Areeba: Zoya, I’m serious. You know how easily nazar affects children. I remember when my cousin’s baby started crying non-stop after someone praised her cheeks. Doctor said colic, but phupo swears it was evil eye. She did a lemon ritual and poof — baby was fine.
Zoya: Areeba, you do realize babies cry because they’re babies? They cry when they’re hungry, cold, hot, gassy, tired, bored… it’s their job. The evil eye doesn’t come with a sound effect like “Nazar Attack Activated!” You just see what you want to see.
Areeba: You always say that — “correlation isn’t causation.” But come on, there are too many stories like this. My nani used to tie black threads on our ankles to keep black magic away. None of us ever got sick. That’s proof!
Zoya: Proof of what? That thread scares away germs?
Areeba: Maybe not germs, but… energy. Negative energy. My nani would never lie.
Zoya: I’m not saying she lied, Areeba. But people often do the right things for the wrong reasons. Maybe the thread had nothing to do with you being healthy. Maybe it was clean water, good food, vaccines — oh wait, you hate vaccines too, right?
Areeba: Nooo, I don’t hate vaccines — I just think they open portals to weird diseases.
Zoya: (laughs) Portals? Are you playing too much PUBG?
Areeba: Zoya! Don’t joke. There is black magic in the world. Haven’t you heard of that peer in Multan who reversed a marriage spell?
Zoya: Look, black magic, nazar — they’re convenient explanations when we don’t understand something. But they stop us from asking real questions. If a child suddenly falls ill, let’s check their medical history, not run to someone who chants over mustard seeds.
Areeba: But science doesn’t explain everything either. My friend Sana’s daughter couldn’t speak until age four. Doctors said “developmental delay.” Her mother went to a spiritual healer, he blew something on water, and the child spoke her first words a week later. Coincidence?
Zoya: Possibly. Or the child was ready anyway. It’s like giving credit to the rooster for the sun rising because he crowed.
Areeba: (chuckles) You always have metaphors.
Zoya: I’m serious, though. There’s harm in these beliefs too. Imagine if Sana didn’t go to the doctor and only relied on amulets. What if it was a condition that needed therapy or intervention? Superstition delays action.
Areeba: Hmm. I see your point. But sometimes, these rituals comfort people. Not everyone wants to hear a lecture on neurodevelopmental disorders when they’re scared.
Zoya: Fair. Comfort matters. But what if instead of misleading comfort, we give people informed comfort? Like — it’s okay to worry, but let’s also get the child to a speech therapist and blow rose petals if that helps emotionally.
Areeba: So you’re saying do both?
Zoya: Why not? Keep your nani’s black thread if it gives you peace, but don’t skip the doctor. Combine tradition with reason. That way, you’re not risking your child’s health over a belief.
Areeba: Hmmm. You know, I was thinking of seeing a pediatrician about my niece’s rash, but then chachi told me someone might’ve done jadoo.
Zoya: Or maybe she just needs a mild steroid cream?
Areeba: (laughs) Fine. I’ll go to the doctor first. Then if the cream doesn’t work, I’ll ask nani for some anti-nazar lemon-spin routine.
Zoya: Deal. But I’m bringing my rooster next time. I want to see if he can raise the sun faster than your peer in Multan.
Areeba: Uff, Zoya! You’ll never change.
Zoya: Hopefully not. But maybe I’ll help you change — just a little.
[They both laugh, sip their chai, and look out over the rooftops, where a neighbor has just hung a string of green chilies and lemons outside their door.]
Science Vs Superstition 
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