Me in Mumbai!

I know this post's coming a bit behind schedule. But I was deeply overcome by lethargy the past few days. Without further delay, here's how my trip progressed...

We set off for Mumbai on the afternoon of 25th Jan, amidst the state-wide bandh called by the political parties, as a former MLA was killed. A strange potpourri of emotions filled me - the joy of meeting Ji, apprehension of the talks between Dad and Ji, the bitterness of tauji and taiji coming along instead of mom and a question deep within me - whether my life would only be spent in waiting for happy times to come. En route, I briefed about Ji to the others.

With dawn, I stepped into the City of Dreams, also the city of my dreams. We hired a cab and sped off to our guest house. I spoke to Ji and conveyed to him that all of us would meet for breakfast. He was thoroughly tensed, despite my repeated assurances. Well, I know it's just the anxiety of meeting someone for the first time!

But the actual meeting was highly informal and dad was keen on creating a relaxed ambience so that Ji was at ease. Dad only asked Ji to inform him when he must come down and speak to Ji's parents. All the other talk was casual, aimed at knowing Ji as a person.

Soon after this, Ji and I were by ourselves and roamed around Mumbai. Shopped loads at Linking Road, Fashion Street; went to Juhu Beach and Bandra Bandstand and met one of my best friends NL. I missed the Ganesha temple :( ! Though most Mumbaiites might disagree with me, I enjoyed those local train rides ;) !

Needless to say, it was a difficult farewell from Ji, as all our parting moments are. Of course I understand the parting is only physical; our souls are very well fused into one...

Don't Quit...

An interim post till I draft my Mumbai experience...

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When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill.
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns.
And many a fellow turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man.
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor’s cup.
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar.
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.

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Can anyone tell me who's the author of this poem?