Scene: A small kitchen in Manchester. Two friends, Jamie and Priya, are having tea together. A couple of knives are accidentally left crossed on the table.
Priya: (eyes widening) Jamie! Don’t leave the knives like that. Crossed knives mean conflict is coming. We’ll end up arguing, I’m telling you.
Jamie: (chuckling) Priya, we’re more likely to argue about which biscuit goes best with tea than because of two bits of cutlery.
Priya: You say that, but my gran swore by it. Every time she saw knives crossed, there’d be a row in the family that same day.
Jamie: Or maybe your family just… argues a lot? Correlation doesn’t equal causation, you know.
Priya: Easy for you to say. Remember last Christmas? We had that crossed knife situation at dinner, and what happened? Aunt Meera stormed out after arguing about the TV remote.
Jamie: (laughs) Priya, that had nothing to do with knives. That was about her wanting to watch Call the Midwife instead of football. Crossed knives didn’t summon conflict—football did.
Priya: You’re too logical sometimes. These old sayings exist for a reason. People noticed patterns.
Jamie: People also thought thunder was caused by angry gods. Doesn’t mean Thor’s hiding in the clouds with a hammer.
Priya: (smiling) Alright, Professor Science. But humour me—why do you think so many cultures have these knife superstitions then?
Jamie: Honestly? Knives are sharp and dangerous. Humans probably built little rituals around them to remind each other to handle them carefully. If you make crossing knives “bad luck,” you’re less likely to play around with them and stab your toe.
Priya: (pauses) Huh. That… actually makes a bit of sense.
Jamie: Exactly! Science, not sorcery.
Priya: (grinning) Still, if you don’t mind, just uncross them. I’d rather not risk a row over biscuits.
Jamie: (dramatically uncrossing the knives) There you go. Balance restored. Now, Rich Tea or Digestives?
Priya: (mock serious) Choose carefully. The wrong answer might actually cause conflict.
Jamie: (laughing) See, now that’s a superstition I can get behind.
Science Vs Superstition 
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