I forgot to quote this portion in my previous post, so I'm quoting it now....but I think you put it very well, Raaz.
With Adi, we have to turn our usual expectations from a male lead on their head.....nothing is typical with this guy, least of all if you view him through the lens of a typical ITV Male Lead who falls in love in a typical way and then acts upon it in a typical way too.
As you aptly pointed out, Adi functioned till this point in his life on the idea that compatibility is love....comfort is love. But now his whole world has turned upside down as he's realizing that just wasn't it.....love isn't about complacency and convenience. Love should make you want to fight for it in the face of all challenges and discomforts. That is the beauty of his equation with Imlie....in the midst of such immense complications, challenges, discomforts.....it is only with her that he finds sukoon...peace....not because she is a convenience or a comfort....but because he only feels himself with her. As he said that day on the bus returning from PD...with Imlie he feels safe. That is what I felt this convo showed again. He initiated the convo to reassure her that she can trust him....but the convo soon showed that ultimately he feels this need to share every unvarnished truth of his with Imlie, even the uncomfortable ones because that is the only place where he feels safe. That is what I saw from him in this scene as he was about to break down again saying that he doesn't want to hurt Malini either....like he could only share his burdens with Imlie without judgement....
I won't say all three are battling the situation trying to avoid hurting the others....right now, I mainly see Adi-Imlie trying to avoid hurting someone else as they navigate their relationship....Malini has overtly started hurting Imlie as was seen in the previous epi.....not that it matters to Imlie much....lol she was chirpy enough with Malini again in the very next scene. Atleast Adi has started calling out her attempts to zone out her hurt more directly....he's not letting Imlie retreat into her usual compartmentalized zone and is forcing her to confront that what she feels is valid and she can't deny it simply cuz she thinks accepting those feelings will hurt Malini.
THIS! What started as him trying to comfort her trying to make up for all the hurt that malini caused her and adi wanting to.reassure her that she wasn't wrong she was right in her place he is on totally her team and can trust him soon took a uturn and became him putting his raw self out by seeking the comfort in her again.. by asking her questions how can he lessen the pain why is it that this realization of love has only brought pain for them why can't it be like others where live brings absolute joy why can't they be normal.. it is heartbreaking and also fulfilling at the same time to see them address these things and be their most trueselves to each other.. the way adi started breaking down not being able to hold his emotions the pain all the guilt.is causing him he couldn't hold back in front of imlie caz this is the person he doesn't need to hide away with...this is the person who.would not judge him for showing his emotions like that. Instead she will bring calm to his internal.strom she will be able to.give him hope something to look upto to hang in there.. she is the person who can handle his crazy she is the anchor. Once again it was on full display how she is emotionally the stronger one and can not only handle her own self but has the ability to handle him too when he is so over the edge and so lost.. he tries to be the mature elder one but eventually it is her who turned out to be those things caz adi ko nahi pata khud ko kaise handle karna Hai...she is the only person in the world.who samjhoes him.who knows exactly why would he be rattled and how will it be settled.. and adi knows that she understands him.better then himself so he confides.. the best part unknowingly that part was never was he initially intended to do all he was trying to do.was give imlie the confidence that she can trust him but in the process he ended up organically speaking about his struggle his dilemma it happened unplanned and he never realized when he showcased that hurt it was causing him .. and that I find so so marvelous in their bond..