I think both things are partly true. His PDA with Malini was overcompensation as well as the truth as he believed it in the moment. Adi is such an expert at hiding from himself that it can be simultaneously true that he was suppressing his feelings for Imlie so much that he was able to deny their existence and feel completely comfortable that what he is expressing to Malini is his truth.
So we may never get a clear answer on how long he has suppressed these feelings for Imlie and when they moved into the conscious realm.....the bike scene was a big trigger point, yes....but it's not like he suddenly developed feelings for Imlie from that point only and there was nothing before......Imlie's loss broke through the solid mental/emotional barriers he had built inside himself to compartmentalize his "truth" as he was comfortable with it.
Adi was able to do so much PDA with Malini precisely because he thought his conscience was clear then.....and the reason it was clear was also because he was so successful in suppressing his true self. The reason he is struggling more now is that the door has been opened to the truth in his heart and mind and now his conscience isn't being able to hide from it anymore.
Yes, subconsciously he was developing a connection with Imlie, as it moved from forced to respect to trust to care and now love but consciously he was completely committed to Malini and hence that was his truth. I would say his moon jaap was an overcompensation for the guilt that he is hiding his marriage, PDA looked all natural to me. 😛But may be its because Aditya is such a good actor 😆
@bold: Word, he is struggling because of his conscience.