In a successful union of two people, in any relationship there

The words of Mohnish Bahl—“In a successful union of two people, in any relationship there always has to be a give and take.”—speak of a truth as ancient as the first bond between human beings. It is the wisdom of balance, the recognition that no relationship can endure if it is one-sided, if one always demands and the other always yields. Love, friendship, marriage, and even fellowship among comrades are like the great scales of justice: they remain steady only when each side offers and each side receives. To ignore this law is to invite collapse, for imbalance in the heart leads to bitterness and ruin.

When Bahl says there must be “give and take,” he reminds us that sacrifice is not weakness and receiving is not selfishness. To give is to plant seeds, and to receive is to allow those seeds to take root. Just as rivers give water to the fields and the fields give food to the people, so too must two souls nourish each other. One who only takes becomes a thief of love; one who only gives becomes a martyr drained of spirit. True unity arises when each person learns both generosity and humility, both the strength to offer and the grace to accept.

The ancients understood this law well. Consider the tale of Antony and Cleopatra, whose passion was fierce but whose union was undone by imbalance. Each sought to dominate the other, and in their struggle, both were destroyed. Contrast this with the story of Odysseus and Penelope. Though separated by years and oceans, their relationship endured because each carried the weight of the other. Odysseus bore the trials of war and wandering, while Penelope bore the trials of faith and patience. Their reunion was not the triumph of one over the other, but of mutual endurance and shared sacrifice.

The meaning of Bahl’s words reaches into every kind of bond. In families, children must learn gratitude even as parents pour themselves out in care. In friendships, loyalty must flow both ways, not demanded by one and neglected by the other. In marriage, the dance of giving and receiving becomes daily bread, woven into words, gestures, and choices. And even in the dealings of nations, alliances thrive when both give and take—when respect and resources are shared, not hoarded. The law of reciprocity is not a private lesson but a universal one.

To practice this balance is no small task, for pride often tempts us to take more than we give, while false humility tempts us to give until nothing is left. The wise recognize when to bend and when to stand, when to offer and when to accept. This balance is not found in a single act but in the rhythm of many days, just as harmony in music is not a single note but the blending of many. Those who learn this rhythm walk in peace; those who ignore it find only discord.

For us, the lesson is plain: cherish reciprocity in all your bonds. If you love, show it in word and deed. If you are loved, receive it with gratitude. If you sacrifice, do so freely; but if others sacrifice for you, honor them by acknowledging their gift. Do not measure your relationships by what you receive alone, nor by what you give alone, but by the living balance of both.

The practical action is this: examine your relationships with honesty. Ask yourself: do I take too much without gratitude? Do I give so much that I forget to care for myself? Seek the balance, and speak openly with those you love, for true unity is built on both offering and accepting. In this way, you honor not only your relationships but the great law of balance that governs life itself.

Thus, let this wisdom be passed down: a successful union is not a battlefield of victories, nor a stage of self-denial, but a garden tended by two hands, where each plants and each harvests. As Mohnish Bahl declares, the secret lies in the eternal dance of give and take. Honor this dance, and your bonds will endure through the storms of time, shining with strength and peace.