“The Sneeze Summary” is a captivating blog post that delves into the curious phenomenon of sneezing. Exploring the science behind this reflexive action, the article seeks to unravel the mysteries of why we sneeze and how it affects our bodies. From the triggers that can set off a sneeze to the potential health benefits and risks associated with sneezing, this summary provides a fascinating insight into a common yet often overlooked bodily function. Read More Class 10 English Summaries.
The Sneeze Summary
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The Sneeze Summary in English
One beautiful evening, Ivan Tcherviakoff, a minor official, was sitting in the opera-house watching a famous opera. As he sat there, he felt extremely relaxed and happy. But suddenly his face grew wrinkled, his eyes rolled, and he held his breath-he took off his glasses, bent forward, and hachoo! He sneezed.
Now, sneezing is not prohibited to anyone. Peasants sneeze, and chiefs of police sneeze, and even politicians seenze; everyone sneezes. Naturally, Tcherviakoff did not feel embarrassed at what he had done. He wiped his nose with his handkerchief and glanced about him politely to make sure that he had not disturbed anyone by his sneezing. And then he felt deeply ashamed. He saw that an old man who was sitting in front of him was painfully wiping his bald spot and the back of his neck with his glove and muttering something. He was, Tcherviakoff recognized, General Brizjaloff of the Department of Highways.
“I sneezed on him,’ thought Tcherviakoff. ‘He is not my chief, but still it is awkward. I must apologize.’
Tcherviakoff cleared his throat, shifted himself forward, and whispered in the general’s ear, I beg your pardon, Your Excellency! Sneezed on you. I accidentally ………’
Never mind, never mind …….’
‘For Heaven’s sake, excuse me. II ……. I didn’t mean to ……..
‘Oh, sit down, please! Let me listen to what is being said.’
Tcherviakoff was terribly confused. He smiled idiotically and began watching the opera again. He looked at the stage, but no longer felt happy. Anxiety was beginning to trouble him. During the next interval, he approached General Brizjaloff and murmured, ‘I sneezed on Your Excellency, excuse me. You see, I ……… did not do it to
‘Oh, enough of that. I had already forgotten about it and you keep on at the samething!’ said the general, impatiently twitching his lower lip.
“He says he has forgotten it, but there is malice in his eyes,’ thought Tcherviakoff, glancing at the general suspiciously. ‘He won’t even speak. I must explain that I didn’t mean it ……… that sneezing is a law of nature …….. or else he might think I was spitting. If he doesn’t think so now, he will later.”
On reaching home, Tcherviakoff told his wife about the incident. She was alarmed at first, but when she learned that Brizjaloff was not her husband’s chief, she felt reassured.
‘Still, you must go and apologize,’ she said, ‘He might think you don’t know how to behave in society.’
“That’s just it!’ said Tcherviakoff, ‘I have apologized, but he acted so curiously. He didn’t say anything sensible. But, then there was no time for conversation.’
The following day Tcherviakoff shaved, wore his new uniform and went to Brizjaloff’s office to explain things to him. In the general’s reception room, there was a large crowd of petitioners. Sitting at a large table in the centre of the room was the general, who had already begun his reception. After he had interrogated several of the petitioners, the general raised his eyes to Tcherviakoff.
“Yesterday, at the opera-house, if you remember, Your Excellency ………’ the little official began, I sneezed and …….. accidentally spattered on you. Excuse ………’
‘You are talking about the same thing again? What nonsense! What can I do for you?’
Tcherviakoff turned pale. ‘He won’t speak to me!’ he said to himself. “That means he is angry. I must explain the whole thing to him.’
When the general had finished his interview with the last petitioner and was leaving, Tcherviakoff stepped up to him and murmured, ‘Your Excellency! If I dare to trouble you, it is only, I can assure you, from a feeling of repentance. I did not sneeze on purpose. Your Excellency must know that …….’
The general made a fearful face and waved his hand in despair. “You are simply joking, sir!’ he said disappearing behind the door.
‘He says I am joking!’ thought Techerviakoff. ‘But there is no joke about this at all. He is a general and he can’t understand what a common man like me is going through! I am not going to beg that man’s pardon again! I’ll write him a letter, but I’ll not come here again.’
Tcherviakoff could not stop thinking about the incident as he walked homewards. He did not write that letter to the general. He thought and thought, but could not think of anything to write. He decided to go back to the general the following day and explain everything in person.
‘I came yesterday and troubled Your Excellency,’ he mumbled as he faced the general, “but not with the idea of joking, as Your Excellency remarked. I wanted to ask for your forgiveness because when I sneezed-I did not dream of joking. How could I dare do such a thing? To joke would be to show no respect for persons.’
‘Get out!’ roared the general, suddenly quaking and growing red in the face.
“What?’ whispered Tcherviakoff. He was horrified to see the general so angry.
Something seemed to break inside Tcherviakoff. He stumbled through the door and out into the street. He could not see or hear a thing, and he crawled along the pavement. He walked home mechanically and when he reached there, he lay down on a sofa without taking off his uniform, and died.