Ahmed: (sipping chai) Yaar, you know why I was late today? My mother took me to that astrologer in Saddar. He said my whole life is in trouble because of Mangal dosh.
Bilal: (laughs) Mangal dosh? Bro, you sound like you’re applying for NASA instead of getting married.
Ahmed: I’m serious! He said Mars is in the wrong position in my kundli. Because of that, if I marry without doing certain rituals, my wife could die early. Imagine, Bilal! That’s a big deal!
Bilal: (grinning) Or maybe, if you marry without rituals, your wife will just kill you for leaving the socks on the bed. Happens in every marriage, Mars or no Mars.
Ahmed: Stop joking, yaar. These things are real. My cousin didn’t listen. He married without checking his stars. Two years later, divorce. Explain that!
Bilal: Divorce? That’s not Mars, that’s miscommunication. Or maybe he didn’t learn how to say “Sorry” on time.
Ahmed: No, it’s not like that. The astrologer said even my business is slow because of Shani’s position. That’s why I have to do a puja and donate black lentils every Saturday.
Bilal: Black lentils? So Shani dev is basically hungry? Yaar, think about it logically. Mars is a planet 225 million kilometers away. Saturn is even farther. You think their position in the sky decides if your business will work?
Ahmed: Science doesn’t know everything, Bilal. Our ancestors believed in this for centuries. Can’t all of them be wrong?
Bilal: People believed the Earth was flat for centuries too. Should we go back to that?
Ahmed: Hmm… but then why do astrologers get things right sometimes?
Bilal: Simple. They give very general statements. Like, “You will face challenges, but success will come if you stay strong.” Tell me one person in this world who that doesn’t apply to!
Ahmed: Okay fine, but what about the unlucky timings? My aunt says she shifted her house during Rahu kaal and after that, her fridge broke.
Bilal: (laughing) Fridge broke because Rahu was angry? Or because it was 15 years old?
Ahmed: You’ll never understand. These things are beyond logic.
Bilal: And you’ll never understand that believing in this makes you stressed for no reason. Instead of worrying about Mars, worry about your business plan. And instead of fearing Shani, maybe fear tax season. That’s more real.
Ahmed: (smiling) So you’re saying I should ignore all this and just live?
Bilal: Exactly. Live, work hard, and don’t blame Saturn if your chai gets cold.
Ahmed: Fine… but just to be safe, I’m still donating black lentils this Saturday.
Bilal: Do it, yaar. Just make sure you cook some for me too.
(Both laugh and clink their chai cups.)
Science Vs Superstition 
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