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For five days now Khalil and Bintu have been wandering inside the forest. Both of them were completely exhausted, especially Khalil who had almost lost his senses because of severe hunger. Fortunately, during their journey they found a mango tree and ate from it; otherwise Khalil would have collapsed.
Such is life. Khalil, who used to choose what food he wanted to eat, is now struggling just to find anything to eat at all. May God make things easier for him.
As they continued walking, Khalil suddenly started crying and said:
“Please Mimi, let us rest here. I am very tired and extremely hungry.”
Bintu replied gently:
“My brave one, please be patient. I also don’t know what I can give you to eat. Let us keep moving; perhaps God will help us find something.”
But Khalil burst into tears saying repeatedly that he was hungry. Seeing him cry made Bintu start crying too. Soon both of them were crying loudly like people who had just lost someone dear. None of them could comfort the other.
---
Meanwhile, Bushar and his men were passing through the forest when they heard voices crying from afar. They stopped and listened.
Bushar said,
“I think I hear someone crying.”
They followed the sound until they reached the place.
---
Khalil told Bintu:
“Mimi, why are you crying? Please stop crying. I don’t like seeing you cry.”
Bintu replied:
“How can I stop when my hero is crying? When you cry it breaks my heart.”
Khalil comforted her until they both stopped crying and began speaking about their love.
Khalil said:
“Mimi, if we become husband and wife, I will show you so much love that you will be proud of me.”
Bintu felt extremely happy hearing those words and smiled with joy.
Just as she was about to reply, suddenly they noticed people surrounding them. Bintu quickly stood up in fear, while Khalil hid behind her like a frightened child saying:
“Mimi, hide me! They might hurt me.”
---
Bushar burst into laughter.
“So a woman is the one protecting you, Bintu! Interesting.”
He then ordered his men:
“Don’t hurt him. Take them both. We are going back to Guma village.”
Khalil clung tightly to Bintu, crying and begging her not to let them harm him.
---
Meanwhile, Alili ran to Grandfather (Kaka) and told him breathlessly that Bushar had returned. After hearing everything, Kaka became very worried and angry that Khalil had been allowed to run away because of a woman while he was not mentally stable.
Kaka then informed Bintu’s father (Baffah) about the escape of Khalil and Bintu. Baffah became deeply worried for his daughter and they decided to search for them.
---
Bushar then took Khalil and Bintu straight to the village chief.
Bushar angrily told the chief:
“You allowed someone to marry the woman I want simply because I am not from this village. Gather everyone here because I have something important to say.”
Soon the entire village gathered at the palace.
Bushar spoke again:
“Bintu has already been promised to another man. Since both of us want her, I have decided that we will compete. Whoever wins will marry Bintu.”
The chief asked:
“What kind of competition?”
Bushar replied:
“A whipping contest. One hundred lashes. Whoever cries loses.”
---
Everyone was shocked.
Bintu’s father, Kaka, and Alili stood up in disbelief.
Bushar added:
“A man who wants to marry a woman must be strong enough to endure lashes.”
Reluctantly they accepted because Bushar threatened violence if they refused.
The chief then asked Khalil if he agreed.
Khalil held Bintu’s hand tightly with tears in his eyes.
He whispered:
“Mimi, will they separate us?”
Bintu explained the competition to him.
Then she asked gently:
“You love me, don’t you?”
Khalil nodded.
“Then answer them from your heart.”
Khalil lifted his head and said:
“I agree.”
---
The competition was scheduled in three days.
---
That night Bintu woke up around 3 a.m., performed ablution, prayed, and raised her hands in deep prayer:
“O Allah, You are the only one worthy of worship. I bring my cries to You. Choose what is best for me. If this man is good for me, make him my husband. If not, give me a better one.”
She cried and prayed sincerely to God.
Her father, Kaka, and Alili were also praying for her.
---
The Day of the Competition
The entire village gathered to watch. Many people believed Khalil would lose.
Bushar entered the arena holding a terrifying whip.
Khalil stood nervously searching for Bintu in the crowd.
Bintu held his hands and said softly:
“My hero, remember your promise today. Be brave. Do not let tears fall from your eyes.”
Khalil whispered fearfully:
“I’m scared Mimi. One hundred lashes… my body cannot bear it.”
Bintu replied:
“Maybe your body cannot, but your heart can. I know how much you love me.”
---
The announcer explained the rules:
Bushar will whip Khalil 100 times.
If Khalil cries, he loses Bintu.
If he does not cry, then next week Bushar will receive the same punishment.
---
Bushar approached Khalil with the whip.
The announcer shouted:
“One… two… three… begin!”
Bushar struck Khalil with the whip.
Kaka, Alili, and Baffah closed their eyes, unable to watch.
But Khalil endured it.
Five lashes…
Ten…
Twenty…
The announcer checked his eyes.
“There is not a single tear.”
The crowd was shocked.
People began whispering:
“He is truly brave.”
Bushar became furious and continued whipping him until all 100 lashes were completed.
Yet not a single tear fell from Khalil’s eyes.
The crowd erupted with cheers.
They carried Khalil away because his body was bleeding heavily. He was unconscious.
Bintu fell into prostration (sujood) thanking God.
The villagers praised Khalil, saying they had finally found a true hero without magic.
Meanwhile, Bushar left angrily to visit his sorcerer (Boka), furious that Khalil had not cried.
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