History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c6.18

c6.18

At such a critical moment, when the Jalālī party had completely collapsed, and Malka-i-Jahān saw no chance of success, she sent for Arkali Khan from Multan. "I was wrong in placing your younger brother on the throne" she wrote to him, "while you are still living, for none of the Maliks and Amīrs stand in any awe of him, and most of them have deserted to Sultan 'Alāūddīn, so that sovereignty is passing out of our hands. Make haste, therefore, if you can …… and mount the throne ……" ¹⁰ Arkali Khan lost no time to understand that the situation had become altogether hopeless. Moreover the rancour in his heart against his mother dissuaded him from going to Delhi and taking up a dying cause. He sent an evasive reply: "As the nobles and their retainers have all gone to the enemy, what would be the good of my coming"?