I wish I could reply to all your comments but I'm on my phone and quoting is a miserable task when using your phone to post.
Qhid and ranz- definitely true about Asad. The sorrow was so palpable. Qhid that is a great point- Asad is a stubborn man and he wont see the light any time soon. Zoya will fill the void in Asad's life by not only introducing him to a lighter way of living which he missed out in his childhood but she will also facilitate reconciliation with his dad. It's ironic given how things are turning out in her own life. She came to India to find her dad but she will end up helping Asad find his while being disappointed in her own.
Humpty- yes she surely said that in reference to her dad but we are looking at how that dialogue impacted Asad and how it was perceived by him- like you said, it might trigger him to be more proactive about Zoya. Zoya misses a father figure in her life. Asad can fulfil both roles in her life- that of a lover and that of pillar (which father figures usually are). When you're in love with someone, I think it's natural to want to care for them and to fill all the gaps in their life and so on- which is what I thought Asad was implying by trying to hold her hand.