It was almost accidentally that I discovered the biggest bombshell in this fiasco - my wife's diary. I was on our home computer one evening editing and sorting some documents and deleting unwanted stuff to clear up the memory. There was a folder named journal that I could not remember creating. As I browsed through it I realised it was my wife's diary and it was curiosity that made me skim through it after the happenings that had been going on in our lives. The diary had started more than 2 years ago and initially it described rather day to stuff like incidents at work, some gossip and then went on to mention the beginning of the construction of our house. Reading on, I suddenly realised that there had been another incident during the construction of our house. I will reproduce the relevant diary entries as events unfold.
03/04: We visited the work site around noon. There is a new painter who has been brought in to assist the carpenters. He informed Vasanth that he would like to live on the work site as he usually prefers to work till late in the night. V agreed readily as he can also double up as a night watchman. I think he's rather dishy!!
(Gaam the new guy mentioned in her diary was about 35, of medium height and build. He looked a fairly serious, stern kind of guy and also was a man of few words. He's got a stern look maybe due to a very strong and jutting jaw line.)
10/04: Work is going on at a rapid pace at the work site. While V was going round inspecting the site I went over to the painter who is much cuter in his work clothes. Mmmmh nice and hairy and seems very strong. He seems a rather shy type. When i spoke with him he answered very politely but developed a strong stammer. Is it because he's excited or embarrassed by me? But I think he is definitely looking at me in an interested manner. Let's see..'
15/04: We visited the site late in the evening. All the workmen had left for the day. Only the old watcher and the new guy were around. He's busy with his work with a strong electric light on. I guess due to the heat from the light and the hard work he's doing, he's only in a pair of shorts and a makeshift mask made with a triangle of cloth. Sexy look - like a pirate or highway robber!! I noticed that he was covered in a layer of light coloured dust probably from the timber he was working with. There were dark streaks of sweat running down his brow.
He saw me and cautioned me from coming closer as there was a lot of dust. I went towards him anyway as V was busy inspecting the rest of the work done on the site. He promptly stopped using the electrical sand papering machine to stop the dust. Under the artificial light he seemed to have an almost golden hue, with his hair also turning brown instead of the usual black. I had this insane urge to run my fingers through his straight thick hair and flick off the dust. No long chat was possible as V arrived on the scene. I really need to get him alone...
19/04: He's acting slightly different towards me. I noticed that he kept on looking at me all the time when I was at the site today. Didn't get a chance to talk to him alone. But when I asked from nobody in particular if they could water some of the plants we had planted as a hedge, he volunteered at once.
26/04: Went late in the evening to the site alone as V was away and wanted me to see what work had been done. I pretended to fuss before agreeing. I managed to park with a bit of difficulty as it was getting dark. The site was deserted as expected. Didn't see the lights on in the area he usually works. The old watcher also didn't seem to be around. I walked around with a bit of trepidation as it was lonely there. Just as I was about to leave, he appeared from the workmen's shed. Was even more cordial than usual. Was in jeans and with a towel around his shoulders - obviously after a bath. Explained that he was trying to go to town get some dinner. I offered him a lift and he stammeringly accepted.
He was painfully shy to talk to. But I realised that he was eager to talk with me. I asked if he could do some work on our furniture at home and he agreed readily. As i dropped him off i gave him some money to get some dinner. Though he declined initially, when i forced him he accepted. Our hands touched as i gave him the money. Did i sense that he lingered on when his fingers touched mine as the money passed. He didn't remove his hand as he thanked me profusely for being so kind. I also didn't withdraw my hand. I love the way his stubbled jaw juts out giving him a stubborn look.
(I know i should have sensed that something was amiss when my wife suggested that we should get our furniture re done by Gaam. It involved in him coming to our home when time permitted to get the work done.)
05/05: He started work at home. He was picked up by V from the work site and dropped home after we set off for work. I returned home about noon without telling V. He was busy at work as usual stripped down to his shorts. Looked very surprised but pleased to see me. I went and got a drink for him. We chatted while sipping the cool drink. As it was very warm i asked him to take a break. He said he didn't mind the heat and wanted to go on working.