Just as she was thinking of closing her eyes for a few minutes, she heard a knock on the door. She peeped out and had a big surprise!
Uncle Hobbler had brought his entire family with him. They sat on a rock and sang "Happy Birthday, dear Tiruswami". Tiru swami could not remember a better birthday.
Barely had a few minutes passed, when someone came walking up the path. The cubs could not believe their eyeses! One of their dearest friends, Lakshmi had arrived.
"O Mother!", said Mum Lioness to Lakshmi, tears filling her eyes, "Thank you for blessing us with your presence!"
Then there was a rustling in the bushes. Mum Lioness turned.
It was Valli the deer, carrying some flowers in mouth. Tiru, I just picked them up fresh, off the ground. I promise I did not break them off!
Tiru smiled. Everyone knew the cubs were very particular that trees and plants should not be harmed.
Mum let them play a while and then got them a cup of hot milk each.
Barely had she settled down when she heard another knock. She came out running wondering what surprise awaited her. But there was no one.
Again she heard a knock and came out, but no one. Then she stood quietly by the door. She heard a rustle in the hedge nearby.
She came out and inspected the hedge. Hidden inside it, frightened, was Flora the goat!
What do you want, GraceAnanda?, Mum Lioness asked.
I wanted to meet the cubses, please. I need their help.
Oh you do? Like cub-napping them again?
She turned to call the cubs, and then noticed parked in the parking area was a dragon-cart. O, this must belong to the Dandapanis from Dindigul. Such a nice family, and cute infant with a runny nose. She smiled. Stripes could never stand one thing about human children: their runny noses. He would thank God that lion (and leopard) cubses didn't have runny noses. As she said the word Dindigul in her mind, a rush of peace and love filled her.
All names related to Bhagavan's life, especially His childhood filled her with this indescribable feeling: Madurai, Villupuram, Tindivanam, Dindigul ...
The dragon was quietly chewing on some hay. Behind it was a family sized cart. Well-off people in these parts used a dragon-cart for commuting instead of the slower bullock-cart.
As she called out to the cubses, they came darting out. They stopped in front of Flora. "I had this dream, Tiru swami."
"In which you cub-napped me?", laughed Tiru.
No, she nervously laughed.
"I now belong to Bhagavan.", she said shyly.
"I can see that in your eyeses", replied Tiru.
The cubs agreed. One felt that she always did have love-eyes. Another felt that only now she did. But there was no doubt that she had surrendered completely to Bhagavan.
"In reality, I always belonged to Bhagavan. i guess, er ... I just did not know!", Flora said. "Does that make any sense?"
Oh sure it does, said Mum Lioness picking up Flora and bringing her in. "Let me get you some warm milk with honey!"
Flora confided in the cubs that she had left "you-know-who Maharaja". She didn't know whether they would come after her and harm her or what. Should I go away from here?
And do tell Mum Lioness that I am Flora once again and not that silly name.
They all laughed.
The cubs suggested that she trust Bhagavan totally on this, no harm would come to her.
"I totally believe that", she said. "But I wanted to hear that from you."
They took her to their altar, where Bhagavan's photographs stood. That's Sri Muruganar, pointed out Om. And that's Bhagavan with Lakshmi, said Arunacub.
Flora sat there and prayed to Bhagavan to keep her forever, never to let go of her.
Then she turned back and said, "Hey Tiruswami, I never told you about the strange dream I had". After she had narrated the dream (which the cubs heard with great amazement bordering on disbelief ("Bhagavan told you that?"), she said, "Oh before I forget, Tiruswami, wish you a very very happy birthday!"
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