“through the act of living, the discovery of oneself is made concurrently with the discovery of the world around us. . ."

Friday, November 13, 2009

Snorrrrrring

Last weekend I had to go to Calicut on official business; which means an opportunity to travel 2nd A/C. In the night train, I prepared for sleep at around 2200 hrs; the other three were fast asleep. It might have been half an hour into slumber – I woke up to the roar of a snore, from right above me. Once you latch on to a snore, it is impossible to shake it off. Even the slightest pause in the snore opera would tense you up – when, when is it going to rap out again? Nothing will work to bring down the volume of the snore – pillow, cotton, counting sheep.

More than halfway into my journey, I sit up groggily, only to find the other two victims too awake and sitting huddled up on their berths. We mutter curses. I had to act, because I had to be fresh for the next day’s programme. I get out of the berth, stretch my arm and shake the young fellow. ‘Frr-Hmphrrhh - wh-wh-what?’ ‘If you don’t mind, you are bothering us with your snoring, lie down straight or something’. He does, for the next 10 minutes, by which time I am deep asleep and too tired to notice his performance later on.

When we get up to leave at Calicut, I offer the young fellow some advice. ‘Buy paper plaster available at any medical shop, cut a piece and stick it over your mouth before going to sleep. Snoring is mainly due to breathing through mouth. Hyperventilation has other problems too’

‘Yeah? Does it work?’ ‘Sure’, I said, ‘Ask my wife’.

**************** Balachandran V, Trivandrum 13.11.2009

9 comments:

  1. lol....ithu kollam..ishhttayiiiii..........
    "ask my wife" lol lol

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  2. ho, ho, ho, ho, ho!!!
    it is the unpredictable changes in the rhythm that keeps one hooked sleepless, isn't it. the suspense of it.
    fortunately, i have never heard myself snoring in my whole life and i never take another person's version on a point like that. wives use the allegation to put us on the defensive when in no other way they can fault us.

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  3. It is very rare that a person hears himself snoring; so is one admitting to it! Btw, the technique is quite effective; a month of .taping your mouth shut' while sleeping, would ensure tape-free, snore-free sleep for some time to come.

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  4. Very hilarious and I must say the picture you've put is also very humorous...!

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  5. thanks for the advice. i am a victim myself;) and where on earth do you get these amazing photos to color up ure posts!!!!

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  6. @K: Oh, its all 'borrowed' from the 'net! ;)

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  7. Wonderful.
    I enjoyed the last line.
    A smile blossomed in me.
    Very well written

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