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Keletsino Mejura
Kohima, Aug. 6 (EMN): The stellar idea of celebrating Friendship Day was declared by a proclamation made by the US Congress in 1935, as an act of honouring and valuing the importance of friends in one’s life. Consequently, United Nations declared July 30 as Friendship Day, while several countries, including India celebrate it every year on the first Sunday of August. On this auspicious day, people from around the world express their love for their friends and cherish their presence in their lives.
Hillside Cafe: Of Coffee and Friendship
On the occasion of Friendship Day, Eastern Mirror spoke to the owners of “Hillside Cafe”, a lovely café opposite to TT stadium in Kohima, operated by Bendangienla (Aien) Imchen and Khelito Achumi, two good friends since their high school days.
This cafe was an unexpected venture for the two friends, as they had no extensive planning nor sustained parleys of running a café together.
Post high school, Imchen was engaged with her higher education while Achumi was working as a waitress in a fast food restaurant.
It was in 2016, while going for a walk, where they nonchalantly talked about running a small café if they ever got the opportunity. Some days later, they were approached by the landlord of the cafe who told them that he was renting out the area.
Taking this as an opportunity, they both decided to open Hillside Café in June, 2016 and since then, they have been operating it, wholeheartedly serving customers.
On being asked about the benefits of being business partners while being close friends, they instantly replied that it was quite fruitful as there was an increased level of understanding between them, given their strong bonding and how they both served as each other’s backbone. Achumi remarked that Imchen could never be replaced and the latter expressed her gratitude towards the former for being patient and called her ‘a perfect friend’.
As for their future voyage, they told this newspaper that they would like to expand their business together, with time and experience.
The duo also acknowledged their customers, who are mostly their friends, for often visiting and supporting them and pointed out how they were like a close-knitted family.
They concluded by emphasising on the significance of the private sector and encouraged the youths to follow their dreams and passions rather than chasing after government jobs.
Special messages: What friendship means
Menule Chirhah, a food blogger, said that friendship to her is “having a companion that makes life a little lighter through laughters shared and memories created.”
“Friendship to me means being there for each other without needing to have a reason,” Lichan Humtsoe, CEO, Été Coffee said.
One student, Kevithuto Neikha, shared: “I try to distinctly separate acquaintance and my friends. Not everyone I meet and greet is my friend. Friendship is a commitment, a contract or a bond where we get to choose the people we love. We choose our friends. We choose the people who will determine what type of life we lead. We choose ourselves in our friends.
“Friendship is not merely knowing someone for many years. It is the platonic love shared between individuals and that love is the same love defined in the books. It is magical, it sweeps you off your feet, it is calming, and it gives you peace and happiness. So for me friendship is not merely being acquainted with someone due to circumstances, friendship to me is a bond I choose to create with people who will ultimately reflect me in themselves and vice versa”.
Abigail Kikon, a student and a baker, said: “Genuine friendships do not need conditions, they’re always selfless acts of love; love shown to both strangers and friends, lovers and family. The process can either be fast or steady, but in any situation, a friend made will always be cherished and remembered. The happiness that friendship makes us gain is as sweet as honey, and no money can ever buy it.”
Khelito Achumi (yellow shirt) and Bendangienla (black jacket) at their cafe in Kohima. (EM images)