Demba is a widower. He lost his wife Satang in a plane crash about three years ago. He is a business executive. He is blessed with three adorable daughters, Dadoo 17 years, a teenager, Ramou 11 years old and Binet (B.B) 8 years old.
Binet is too smart and matured for her age. She is very fast and thinks like an adult. She wants her dad remarry at all cost. Her Aunty Gooda stays with them since they lost their mom. Binet yearns for a new mom. She discusses with her elder sister Ramou. She supported the idea and is excited about it. “But how can we do it?” She asked Binet. “I’ll do a Research and come up with the best results. Dad must marry this year Ishal Allah! I am fed up hearing girls at school talking about their mums. When they enquire and I tell them mum died, they felt pity for me. No, I hate to be an object of pity. I must act now! I am happy and grateful that you have come along.”Binet expressed joy and happiness. “What about Dadoo? Can we get her in?” “No! She is selfish. She detests dad remarrying again. She argued we are okay like this. Are we?” “No! We are not. “Ramou expressed.
“Okay Rams! Let’s keep it our little secret! Deal?” “Yes! Deal!” They made the deal sign and joked about their little secret. Did their plan work? What is Dadoo’s reaction? Read to find out.

Dad’s Reaction
Dembo came to a quite uninviting house. He was very surprised with the unusual reception he got from his kids. “What’s happening here? No hugs for dad?” he enquired.
Bad News
“Dad, it is bad news for you!” said B.B, youngest daughter.
“What bad news? Did anyone die?” he asked in anxiety..
“No!” she said.
Dad was then relieved. “What is the bad news then? Tell me!”
“Dadoo misbehaved to Aunty Tida when she came to greet her in her room. This made Aunty to leave the house unceremoniously without even saying good bye to us who welcomed her. She came happy and went sad. It is really serious, Dad. We don’t know what Dadoo said or did to her,” the other two younger daughters reported to their father.
“Where is Dadoo?” Dad asked.
“In her room”, answered Ramou, the other daughter.
Dad Confronts Dadoo
“Dadoo! Dadoo! Come here!” shouted an angry Dad.
Dadoo came out from her room to answer to her dad.
“Yes dad! Can I help you?”
“Yes! You can. What did you say or do to Tida?”
“I don’t understand.”
“You don’t understand? Okay! I’ll ask Tida. Be prepared for the worst from me!” retorted Dad.
He left Dadoo’s room in a rage
No Response
Dembo tried to get to Tida but none of her phones was switched on. This made him all the more frustrated.
Dembo Visits Tida
He decided to visit Tida at her home after he closed work in the evening. He came to the house but Tida asked him out. “What are you doing here?” she barked at him. She was very emotional.
Dembo is calm. “Take it easily girl! Let’s talk!”
“Talk about what?” she asked.
“About us? What did Dadoo say or do to you?”
“It’s no longer important. I told you. It will not work. The issue of steps is delicate. You have three daughters, I have a son. When I objected to the marriage proposal you sweet tongued me into it. Your teenage daughter is not amenable to the idea of you marrying me. With this it will not work. Forget about me”, Tida pleaded.
“I can’t forget about you. It will work if both of us put our efforts to it. Dadoo is the only one objecting. She is the odd person out. Her two younger sisters, B.B and Ramou adore you and welcome the proposal. Please, I adore you. Tijan also adores us. Let’s put our two heads together and see how to tackle my daughter. It will not be difficult for her to accept. She is a kid and doesn’t know what she is doing “, Dembo explained, trying to convince Tida..
“No! No! Go away! It will not work! It will not work period! Just go away!” She pushed Dembo out of her house and shut the door after him. Dembo is shattered and sad. He shook his head and disappointedly left Tida’s place.
Tijan Protests
Tijan, who saw how her mom had treated Dembo, protested. “Mom, why did you push Uncle D out of your house? Didn’t you tell me he is going to be my new dad, because my former dad is now in heavens?”
“Yes that was the case before but not now. Uncle D is full of problems”, she explained.
“No! Uncle D is a nice man. I like his girls, B.B and Ramou”, Tijan said disagreeing with his mom.
He is sad.
Dembo Cannot Concentrate
He is devastated by the fact of being shut out by Tida. It is genuine love that is being stubborn. He tried to erase Tida from his mind but cannot. He is greatly disturbed. “Oh Allah intervene and give her the strength to understand and accept my proposal. She is my real partner. It is she who gladdens my soul,” he prayed.
Tida Cannot Concentrate
Telepathy was at play. The feeling of genuine love is reciprocating. Tida too was unusual to concentrate as she was preoccupied with thoughts of Dembo. She blamed herself for overreacting. “He is a nice man. I love him, but I am afraid. His eldest daughter is behaving like a thorn in my flesh. I love him. Please Allah! Let him come back again”, she said to herself and prayed
Both of them were suffering. They could not concentrate at work in their offices. Tida took permission from her boss. “I am not feeling well today. I am going to the hospital”, she lied.
Her boss asked her to go and from there to rest for the day.
Tida Suppresses Her Emotion
Tida attempted to make a call to Dembo but always refrained herself from the occasional strong urge . She was emotionally arching in pain.
Dembo Calls Her
It was Dembo who first succumbed to the temptation to make a call. Despite the fact that she was dying with the desire to reconcile with him, Tida refused to take his call.
NB: In The Gambia, men are freer in expressing their true emotions than women. The women generally suppress their emotions and pretend disinterest. They practice a lot of ‘Sakarah’ (bluffing).
Dembo Visits His Oustas Friend
Outas Ceesay is Dembo’s childhood friend. The two attended the same local Quranic School. He was one of those emissaries who were sent by Dembo to fetch him a wife in his first marriage. He has already introduced Tida to Oustas. He is a very calm and patient man. He however gave him his assurance to meet with Tida to reconcile the relationship.
“Tida is a virtuous woman; a ‘Sohna’. She had her pride. I know she loves you. She is just bluffing. Now, go to her as the ‘predator’. Don’t be discouraged by her reaction. Just show persistence in your request. She will eventually melt down. Take courage! Go for your love!” Oustas advised him.
Dembo smiled and thanked his loyal, noble friend. He is always there for him. Dembo is sponsoring the education of two of Oustas’ girls up to university level.
“Talk to Dadoo! She is the problem. Her two younger sisters accept Tida to be their step mom. But don’t tell Tida that I reported her to you. Raise the issue as it is just part of a general discussion”, Dembo advised.