Basically, there was an experiment where an attractive woman was shown to three men, and they said she was good looking, but they weren't sure if they would ask her on a date. Then the researchers had the woman stand on a rope bridge that swung dangerously and had them walk onto a bridge to meet her in the middle, and all three reported afterward that they found her more attractive after this encounter.
Considering Asad's latent attraction to Zoya (she's not the only one staring in the earlier Mitwa scenes, after all!) it's no wonder the whole situation in Mangalpur ramped up his emotions and why he continues to be drawn to her despite everything. đ