Jobless but not Workless

 On my 35th Birthday today I am jobless but certainly not workless. 22nd of December was my last day at work after 12.8 years. No, it was in fact after 16.1 years and 3 organizations. Darn, its half of my life what I have lived so far. I literally feel that every day is a Saturday-Sunday and again a Saturday-Sunday, go on!! All the days after last Friday have been busy ones. Cousin’s function, photographing it, editing photos and sending them out to everyone. I have not had chance to miss my work yet i.e. desk job, as I have a long to-do list for 2 weeks already. Started with vacuum-cleaning and scrubbing floors, next is cleaning bathroom tiles, windows, doors, followed by painting walls. I wouldn’t do the painting I have hired a professional for that. Oh and a New Year 2018!! What after two weeks, maybe I go to Biratnagar to see other Nikki blessed with her first born. A boy or a girl, we shall see that on Jan 13th. I opened my laptop to write the whole blog, but I guess words don’t come easy, so there goes my “Jobless but not workless” in nutshell.

Meeting JP Cross or John Paul Cross. I would like to call him more Nepali than me.

My sister and I met him on an interview assignment. It was 10 in morning, we finally landed at Pokhara airport after much delayed 8:30 am flight. Although I go to Pokhara every 3 or 4 years this was the first time I saw reputed mountains. The flight itself was a visual treat as if I was on a Mountain flight instead of Pokhara. My mom couldn't keep eye off of the window. She loves mountain she loves hills. And there I saw Machapucchera for the first time and I took photos with it as soon as we landed.

Checked into Hotel Snowland. Fairly good, because although the room was nice and clean with attached bathroom, which is must, there was constant annoying construction sound right outisde the hotel compound.

Up until now I had received plenty "kaa pugnu vayo" (where have you reached) call from Buddhiman ji, adopted son of JP Cross. What I love about Mr. Cross is he is so full of life, healthy, very routined and always smiling. So Welcoming.

We took taxi to his place, unfortunately I cannot recall the name of of place after 5 months of my visit. Yes I should have wrote this blog in April when I met him. There, two elderly handsome men raised hands to wave at us. They came out of house, waited for us on road, lest we got lost. Greeting us three with namaste and they led us in to his domain. He has this huge house, and huge dogs. Mind you Pokhara is much more expensive than Kathmandu, real estate wise.

Buddhiman ji had to leave because of his upcoming election campaign. Mr. Cross told us his history tale, he losing his eyes and hearing ability and so on and so fourth. Between his humours tale and stories, I was worried about his my size German Shephard (I think) which was lying just next to my feet. If I moved my feet and hit him, I could be his food in one gulp.

I tell you, Mr. Cross is one mesmerizing and pure soul, we all were smiling ear to ear, during his interview be that in Nepali or English. One could listen to him on and on. Like I said earlier, he is more Nepali than me. He spoke perfect Nepali without inserting any English words in his dialogue. The one word I caught that my grandfather uses and I never use is "sitimiti" which means rarely. Anyway I can go on and on praising him. After few more chats and quick round of fruits we had to say good-bye.

He got up as we packed our bags and said, I can give you nothing but ashirwad (blessings) and cupped his hands on my head. That was the most beautiful moment for me. I had tears in my eyes and I choked with happiness. Same happened to my mom and sister.

Splendid day with Mr. Cross ended there. Left with happy and heavy heart. Happy because we could meet him. Heavy because it was short. Had it not been for British Council Nepal's assignment, we would have never met Mr. Cross. So, Thank you BC.