"The memories remain fresh. I can very well recall the horrors of the crackdown on the night of March 25 and the uncanny feelings that haunted Mala and me at the DIT Television Centre," Rupa reminisces. She continues, "Actually we were scheduled to record a programme on that very night. But as soon as we entered the compound, we saw the Pakistani soldiers and an otherwise desolation at the TV station"the overall situation turned blood curdling. But fortunately, we met someone who told us to leave the compound immediately. We left the place without a second thought."

After the crackdown, other members of the family went to India to join the war and advised them to wait for further directions. "It was in mid-July, when the remaining members of our family, started the journey towards India from Kaliganj in a private car," says Rupa, who still shivers at the memory of that journey. "We heard that the bridges were all blown up by the Muktijoddhas."

"When we got very close to the border of Agartala in India, we saw about 50 Pak army jeeps arriving there. They stopped and started firing indiscriminately on the river to terrorise people. We waited for the army to stop firing," adds Mala.

"After a while when the Pak soldiers left the place, we met a group of freedom fighters, who encouraged us to cross the borders," says Rupa.

While reminiscing on the experience in Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, Rupa says, "Almost every day we used to record songs, but had no clue as to where it was transmitted from. I still recall the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr when we performed the song Chand Tumi Firey Jao and other two songs Nai diley eid Bangladeshey and Amra Jokhon Mukto Hobo, all of which carrying the same message, that is, we would celebrate Eid once we have attained freedom." The songs were played repeatedly on Eid day.

Then came the day--16 December. "In the morning, while we were rehearsing a song at SBBK, one of our co-artistes rushed into the centre with a big smile and gave us the most cherished news that we were craving to hear, Our prayers have been answered. We are free now", remember the sisters. "We were ecstatic and came out on the streets to celebrate. The usual blackouts in Kolkata city were finally over, there were lights everywhere. We could now go back home. We had achieved independence."