The History of Humāyūn (Gulbadan Begam) 5.1.7

5.1.7

If the order for the death of the women of Baz Bahadur’s household had issued from a Rajput heart, there would have been no need for executioners while he was in flight. The victims were, however, not Rajputnis, and they suffered only to gratify the vanity of a Moslim. Amongst those wounded was Rup-mati, a dancing-girl renowned throughout Hindustan for beauty, singing, and poetic gifts. Her name seems that of a Hindu. Her wounds, inflicted by Baz Bahadur’s order, were severe and she wished to die. Adham let her know that, if she would care for herself, he would send her to her master when she could travel. She took his promise as true, had her wounds dressed and recovered. When she claimed fulfilment of Adham’s word, she was told to consider herself as his slave. He entered her room, raised her veil, and saw her dead by her own act. Perhaps the point of deepest social degradation in this story is that Rup-mati was, by men’s decree, born to sin without blame, and yet she died because she loved one man. Her heart was single, and yet she was only the most charming, clever and beautiful of a crowd of dancing-girls, purchased slaves, to whom no man’s loyalty and no mercy were thought due.