The abuse began in the evening sessions. If we were sleepy and closed our eyes, the sheikh would whip us. That would certainly wake us up. I stayed in the khalwa for about a month, enduring many beatings. When I returned home, I told my parents that I didn't want to go back, although I didn't feel I could tell them about the abuse I had suffered. They weren't happy about me breaking off my studies, but they didn't force me to return.

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