History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c3.s2.7

c3.s2.7

This incident was duly reported to the Sultan but he took no notice of it.¹³ Not only that, the behaviour of his mother-in-law had made 'Alāuddīn miserable still. The Malika-i-Jahan had got scent of his ambitions and kept a close watch upon him. She warned her old and vacillating husband about 'Alāuddīn's alleged intentions of establishing an independent principality in some remote corner of the country.¹⁴ She even encouraged her daughter to behave arrogantly towards her husband. At Kara 'Alāuddīn breathed a sigh of relief. Here he was away from the indifference of the Sultan, the dominance of the Malka-i-Jahān, and the priggishness of his imperious wife. He began to ponder over his past and to plan out his future. His one idea was to keep away from the two shrews. It is difficult, however, to assign to the princess and her mother the entire blame for 'Alāuddīn's domestic unhappiness, because he himself was not without faults. He was hard-hearted and uncompromising.