My father was a rather loud sneezer. And he has passed it on. When he sneezed sometimes, my grandmother would get rattled and there was a comment from my mother or aunt. So he used to demonstrate [with an unreal sneeze] how his colleague Mr. Dastur's sneezed... just an almost unheard funny sound near his vocal chord! That was another extreme.
In my workplace room we were three. My colleague Manju was my competitor which rattled the lady colleague who sometimes got angry but did not show it. She would tell us "Why don't you tell me just before it was coming, cannot you control it?" We always told her "I'd love to, but there was no time for that, Madam." When my sneeze happened loudly most of the time, it would get the appreciation from Manju and when he performed better, I would praise him profusely and wait for the reaction of the lady. At times she would not be there. "She would have got really angry at that one!" we would look at each other and imagine.
Yes, sometimes we know it is coming. It develops slowly, but we are busy enjoying the beautiful work going inside the nostril - the moment cannot be missed. Our eyes are half closed and the mouth half open - someone who is nearby can make out from the face that a sneeze is brewing up! "A...aa.a.aaaa....." But then, all of a sudden, it explodes ".... Kshooeee!
I am on my scooter, when the 'Ahckshoo' happens. People look in my direction with what-was-that-sound look. There is that something that tickles that one tiny part in the nostrils. There are mischievous youngsters who have troubled their room-mates in the hostel tickling with a piece of thinly rolled paper or thread in the nostrils while they are asleep!
My other colleague Murthy used to present his sneeze whenever we wanted, free. We would ask for one esp. when we went out of the building into the sun on our way to the canteen, a furlong away. Murthy used to say "Okay, wait, take this?" He would look towards the sun blinking in a funny way, his facial muscles contracting weirdly, then "Aksheeee", not loud, but a normal one. Then a smile. He had this knack of getting the Sun to tickle that something in his nostril. I think we can do it too, it is somewhat psychosomatic! They say the sun can trigger a sneeze. But nothing can beat Soapnut powder. Just open a box of it and take the nose close! ...Or snuff for that matter.
At home I also get comments on the loud sneeze. What to do, it is my nature, I argue! "Can't you control yourself and let it out softly?" There we go, same request! I try to be musical dividing the sneeze into two sounds with different pitch and even end up with a long drag, but still they are not impressed!
The best and my most effective sneeze happened in 1995. Our cricket team was traveling in a bus from Trichy to Kumbakonam. Most of us, including me were in the back seat where the door was. All was well until there was a great explosion. I still do not know myself from where it came and how it came, in such suddenness! It was my sneeze!! Our eyes always close the moment the sneeze happens and the moment my eyes opened, I saw people in front of me turning in the direction of explosion asking "Yenna, yenna adu?" in Tamil [What, what was that?] My team mates who were near me were also aghast with a "What-happened-look." The explosion had even shocked the driver who pushed the brake and almost stopped. Everyone soon realized it was just a loud sneeze and not a bomb. They told the driver "Vannu ille, vannu ille, po, po" [Nothing, nothing, go on, go on.]. My team mates started laughing but it was no laughing matter for me. It was the first sneeze of tens that signaled the onset of a bad cold!! Luckily, I played in all the matches [all six days of half day each] and even contributing well to the team's fine performance, despite the tiredness [being young] and the hot weather there. The cold ran its normal duration. My sneeze did not break the Guinness record for the loudest! May be some other time!
At home when someone sneezed once, my grandmother immediately told "Shathayushi" [Live a hundred years] and then waited for the second one to follow. If it did, then she would tell "PoorNaayushi" [Full life]. Somewhat the equivalent of "Bless you." One must bless the other with long life when the other sneezes! `Dheergaayushmaan bhava' [Sanskrit]. The sneezer would say 'Excuse me.' as a show of 'good manners', a western tradition. I do not know if the one who farts also asks for an excuse!
There are several superstitions the sneeze is tagged with. One sneeze is 'bad omen', two is good and so on. They say that a sneeze must not be prevented, but it can be controlled... if there is time! The funny feeling is when we know a sneeze is brewing slowly and is about to come but just wanes away! Then we give the nose a good rub!
Wikipedia says: A sneeze, or sternutation, is a semi-autonomous, convulsive expulsion of air from the lungs through the nose and mouth, usually caused by foreign particles irritating the nasal mucosa. The function of sneezing is to expel mucus containing foreign particles or irritants and cleanse the nasal cavity.
The air from a human sneeze can travel at speeds of 100 miles per hour or more -- another good reason to cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze -- or duck when you hear one coming your way.
Cartoons show dentures flying away on the sneeze! Seriously, those who wear should be careful.
Enjoy this short video clip of my favourite comedians:
AAAAH.........CCHHOOOOOO!!!
Bless you!
