The manager is a familiar face at the store, but few know he was a decorated soldier and major in the Nepal Army before his family came to the United States. And fewer know a land mine destroyed one eye, one foot, and put metal fragments in much of his body. However, his belief in God and support from a close family helped give him a second chance at life.
Pandey was leading a mine-clearing operation as a captain in the Nepal Army. Working on a hill littered with explosives, he slipped and landed on a live mine, blowing off a foot, mangling his body, and severely injuring his face. Pandey kept a positive attitude and strong determination to overcome the situation during his nine months of painful intensive care.
“My wife would visit me in the hospital and she would cry,” Pandey said of Kshitiza, his wife of 25 years. “I told her if she was going to cry, not to come and visit because I was going to be OK. I was going to be fine. I knew I would be.”
Pandey was assigned to administrative duties after recovery and in time retired as a major in the Napoli Army. His wife later entered the family into the United States Diversity Visa Lottery and were picked to come to the U.S. After short stays in other states, the family settled later that year in Weatherford in November 2010.
To Pandey, every customer is a friend. He speaks Hindi and Naploi, but will chat and joke in English even to customers who only understand Spanish. They recognize his friendliness and simply smile back.
“To me, everyone is special. Life is special,” he explained. “I think you always have to be positive and optimistic. I love to be here because America is a great country. We are happy and our two daughters are getting the best education in the world. I love this country and I think it should reflect in your work.”
Pandey’s niece, Aarati Shrestha, also works at the store and agrees her uncle is a happy person to be around.
“He is fun to be around,” Shrestha agreed. “He is just a fun guy and is always acting like an uncle.”
Pandey does not regret his accident and has no bitterness to the abrupt changes in his life. He also sees his military training as one of the many things that taught him to be motivated in any situation. He wears a white “LLLDAM” wristband recognizing Limb Loss Limb Difference Awareness Month, a nonprofit that encourages resilience and acceptance after losing a limb.
“Once a soldier, always a soldier,” is his motto. “I am very fortunate to be here. You only have one life and there is no room for anger and sadness. You have to stay positive. You have to keep moving forward.”
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