Twilight of the Sultanate c7.s1.117

c7.s1.117

Inside the fort Sultan Mahmūd and Mallū Khan made a hurried review of the situation. Surrender would have meant complete annihilation, with no hope of recovery. Tīmūr's movements had clearly indicated that his was a lightning campaign and he had no intention of staying in India. Consequently the Sultan and his Vazīr decided on flight. Avoiding the Hauz-i-Khās near which Tīmūr had encamped, they left by two different gates, Mahmūd by the Hauz-i-Rānī Gate and Mallū Khan by the Hauz-i-Shamsī Gate.¹⁰² Tīmūr, who was keeping a constant watch, had got scent of their flight and sent Amīr S'aīd and Khwājā Aqbugha in their pursuit. They captured many men including Saifuddīn and Khudādād,¹⁰³ the two sons of Mallū Khan, but Sultan Mahmūd and Mallū Khan escaped, the former towards Gujarat and the latter towards Baran (Buland Shahr).¹⁰⁴