‘Comedy of Errors’ at Kodhini Village
Discover a fascinating tale of unexpected hilarity during a visit to Kerala. From mistaken identities in a village brimming with twins to the intriguing quirks of Kodhini, this story captures a real-life ‘Comedy of Errors.’ Enjoy a light-hearted recounting of memorable mishaps and laughter.
It was more than two decades earlier, I remember when I was visiting Kerala to appear for a job interview. The result was rather disappointing for me but the experience that followed was fascinating enough for me to cherish and enjoy a moment of laughter even today – a clear case of ‘Comedy of Errors’.
After the interview, I decided to spend some time roaming around. It was on the third day of my ramble when I landed in a small village named Kodhini. An instant urge to drink some coffee led me to a small shop. And this is where a comedy of errors begins.
When my coffee and Neyyappam were served I looked at the man and kept wondering where I had seen him as he looked very familiar. Another sip of coffee swept my memory back to a not-so-distant past, but a mere 10 minutes earlier when I was buying cigarettes. I realized that the owner of the cigarette shop is my server now. An instant realization made me apologize and give him back his lighter which I accidently brought with me. But to my surprise, he refused to take it back, I told him again, but with results no different than the earlier.
Left with no other options I continued my expedition. After walking for a while as I was looking at the village I found the same man running towards me, I stopped and let him approach, and as he neared he shouted “lighter…..lighter”.
I was rather annoyed and thought ‘What a silly man, when I wanted to return his lighter he refused now he runs like a Carl Lewis to get it back’, I handed him his lighter and asked “Why did you refuse when I wanted to give it back at the restaurant?” He did not reply and left. “How rude.” I expressed.
But the incident that followed was even more confusing than its predecessor. I met a man who asked me the time. I courteously replied and continued, but then as I kept on walking the same man could be seen in front. He approached me again and asked me the time, “I just told you a while back, and tell me something you were walking that way,” I said pointing to my back, “how come you from the front now?”
He smiled and asked me again what the time was. I was irritated but then I realized the best way is to just tell him the time and carry on.
It was almost afternoon when another incident took me by surprise. I found a Toddy shop along the road and decided to try some local alcohol. I ordered a bottle of Toddy and some Beef Pattichu Varathathu. After the first two glasses, I began seeing double – it was indeed a strong drink. But then I realised the double vision was only when with living beings and not the plate or the glass. Sensing it to be a haunted village, I rushed back to my hotel.
An eerie feeling kept bothering me for years until one day I came across a news report. It was about Kodhini village and it informed me that there are at least 400 pairs of twins in a settlement of 2000 families in this village. The report further informed that according to reports from 2008, around 300 women gave birth to healthy babies here, and among those deliveries, 15 pairs of twins were born. Interestingly, the rate of twin births is increasing with each passing year. Villagers say that the occurrence of twin births began almost 70 years ago. My uncanny feeling turned into a ‘comedy of errors’ and I laughed out loud.
So next time you want to experience Shakespeare’s ‘Comedy of Errors’ in reality, you can visit Kodhini village.
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