A cab driver who has spent the last 10 years dreaming about winning the lottery saw those dreams come true earlier this week when he matched 5 of the 6 US Mega Millions numbers drawn on Tuesday night and scooped a $1.9 million win.
Fifty-year-old Mahendra KC left his homeland of Nepal a decade ago, immigrated to San Francisco, and immediately became a dedicated lottery player.
"My dad has been buying lottery for 10 years, hoping he would get the jackpot or some big amount," Mahendra’s son Niranjan confirmed. "He is really excited about it. He was lost for words."
Mehendra purchased his winning 'Quick Pick' ticket from the Huntingdon Liquor Store in San Bruno and although he didn’t match enough numbers to allow him to take a share of Tuesday's mammoth $414 million jackpot, the cabbie is happy with his lot.
Mahendra sped to the California Lottery headquarters and claimed his prize on Wednesday morning, taking his two children with him.
"It’s just a life-changing situation here,” Mahendra's daughter Chandani said, translating for her father. “Now whatever dreams we always had all together as a family, they’re going to be true."
Niranjan said the family is now hoping to use some of their mega-millions to try and seek organ transplants for their grandparents and to get treatment for Mahendra's chronic heart condition.
"We’ve worked so hard throughout our life." Niranjan said. "That’s all my dad thinks about is winning the lottery. Hopefully our lives change now. It’s pretty much a dream come true."
Mega Millions is the biggest jackpot game in America. Jackpots start at $15 million and other prizes range from $1 to $1 million. Drawings are held Tuesdays and Fridays at 23:00 (ET).
