I could be wrong, but it seems like this is the first time he's actually had someone hug him to comfort him, even if briefly, and someone he could hug back. The body language when he put his hands lightly on Pallavi's shoulders while she hugged him, said that he instinctively felt he could count on her but wasn't used to having someone to lean on for support, at least not physically.
Physical contact like that can do wonders to bring a person comfort and relief in difficult moments, and I'm so glad that Pallavi didn't hesitate a second to respond to him. Glad she saw him have a panic attack in the past, because she was able to spot the signs immediately.
Sai and Shivangi were wonderful but I must say, kudos to the screenplay and writers for the way they envisioned this entire scene/episode. I was a bit apprehensive because from watching other ITV shows, I've noticed that such key scenes where people have high expectations are often botched and fail to create the right impact. So glad this didn't happen here.
Also, props to the camera work, not just in the pool scene, but also in the bedroom where Raghav had his back to he headboard, literally for support, as well as the camera angles when showing their mirror reflection during the scene. The fact that they are able to conceive such things in limited settings like a small hotel room and little space to maneuver, is really commendable. What a talented team!!!