"The Land of the Half-Humans" by Thangjam Ibopishak
For six months just head without body, six months only body without head, has anyone seen a land inhabited by these people? No? I have; it’s not a folk-tale; I not only saw but have been to that land. For six months to talk and to eat is their work; like a millstone grinding. The following six months Bhima gorging and Shakuni suffering; for the headless body only shitting is its share. The head talks, eats, drinks; just talking, eating, drinking. While the body is working, labouring, shitting; work, labor, shit. And to sweat and be bone-weary. In the land of the half- body. Do women live in that land? What does the species of women look like? There are women; there are children. The same goes for women too, half-and-half body. They have long hair like the women of our land. They are big, tall, buxom. As for clothes, they hang them below the waist. A body hidden by clothes is not permitted...
