Spotty shares a secret !!

Spotty woke up early this morning. He went bouncing over to the Lions cave. The door was locked. No problem he thought as he used the secret passageway. Only he and the cubses knew about it.

The cubses were farst asleep in Mum Lionesses arms. All four of them were purring away, they sounded like an orchestra! One was draped over Mum Lioness like he had been put out to dry.



He tickled them softly and whispered in their ears. One by one they got up. "I have a BIG secret to share with you!".

Mum Lioness sleeps while cubs follow Spotty

All three looked at him wide-eyed. They gave one look back at Mum Lioness, who was completing the symphony on her own. A great solo performance. It was safe.

Spotty brought them out of the cave. Om asked "Are you going to tell us the secret of how you are always six months old."
"No"
"How Unca Stripes found you?" asked Aruna cub with ascitement.
"Nope"
"About how you defeated the troll once?" asked Tirucub after much thinking.
"No, again"
"About the troublesome sadhus ?? " "Balaswami?" ...

Spotty realized he was about to lose their interest, so he quickly continued.
I have for sometime been meeting someone.
The cubses eyeses opened wide.
Before they could start their guessing game he went on.
"I go over once a week to him. We meditate together. He lives a reclusive life now."
Spotty started walking towards the asram.
"Wait a bit", i would like you to see him.
"I have been telling him about you three for some time. He has been listening with interest. He has been asking to meet you. But you went off camping."
"Uncle Muruganar?"
"Nope, can't you fellers wait without guessing?"
"Uncle Andavane?"
"No. and its not Uncle Kunjuswami either, or Uncle Nayana or ..."
"Ok", they said meekly, resigned to having to wait.

They then took the path away from the ashram to the Sadhu colony.
"Oh I know.", screamed Omcub "Unca Chadwick!"
"NOOOOO", said Spotty triumphantly, "You have been unable to guess, and we're ommst there, so hold it will ya?"

They neared a hut. There was sound of a broom swishing the floor. Some one looked out of the hut on hearing the ascited squeals of the cubses. The person was thin, and quite dark, with a very pleasant face.
Spotty smiled with delight. The three cubs looked with amazement their jaws dropping till they ommst touched the ground.
The person grinned with obvious joy and welcomed them in. All four cubses threw themselves on his feet like they were raiders falling upon a heap of diamonds.

The person lifted them up one by one and kissed them. "You must be Arunacub" he said recognizing the torban. "And you definitely are Omcub," he said tussling his long hair (almost grown back to original length after that awful lice infestation). "Tirucub" he said hugging Tiru who could not conceal his delight.

"We have seen you so often" Tiru said, "in the earlier days."
"I remember well" replied the person "I once stole a glass of water drunk by Bhagavan to you when you were this tiny". He bent down to knee height to show how small Tiru was then.
"Did you?" Tiru asked in amazement, a little sad that he could not recollect the incident.
"You were the first person to sip water drunk by Bhagavan at lunch?"
Tiru glowed with pride to know this.

"Mum Lioness has told us all about you, Sir." the cubs said, " About all the buildings you have constructed here."
"Perhaps you will take us around yourself some day and show us yourself." implored Omcub in his most impossible-to-refuse cutesy voice.
The person did not answer, there was a sad look in his eyes.

Spotty told the cubs "Uncle does not go to the ashram now. Bhagavan has told him to concentrate on meditation."

As he said that the person looked up at the hut door. The cubs swivelled around instantly and gasped.
Standing at the door was Bhagavan. Bhagavan said, "Oho! Annamalai swami, whom do you have here today?"

Bhagavan on Arunachala Hill

Before Annamalai Swamy could answer Bhagavan asked, "What were you asking, Omcub?"
Om cub gulped. His voice would not come out. Arunacub opened his mouth but had lost his voice, too.
Tiru somehow managed to squawk, "Bhagavan, we were asking Uncle Annalamai if he would take us around the ashram and show us what all he has constructed."
"Well, if he won't, I certainly will", replied Bhagavan.

Then Bhagavan added, "Tomorrow bring along Mum Lioness and Unca Stripes. I will show you the wonders Annamalai Swamy has created."

Saying so Bhagavan continued on his walk.
The cubs were speechless. No one knew what to say.
Presently Omcub found his voice. He couldn't wait to tell Mum Lioness.

They kissed Uncle Annamalai's hands. It was impossible to tear themselves apart from him. Then they sensed that Mum Lioness would be getting up anytime. Uncle Annamalai said, "Next time you come without Mum Lioness, do tell her first so she doesn't worry."
He gave the cubs some nuts to munch on the way back.

"Can we tell Mum Lioness this secret?" Om asked as they came out of the hut.
Spotty nodded vigorously (not wanting to tell them that she knew about this beforehand). The cubs scampered home ascitedly each wanting to be the first to tell Mum Lioness.

As they approached home, they detected a heavenly aroma. All four burst into the kitchen sniffing and smacking their lips.

"Annamalai cakes!", announced Mum Lioness, "With maple syrup. And Spotty's favorite berry shakes."