More than 35 hours after the terrorists struck, there was a lull in Mumbai on Friday as National Security Guard commandos and security personnel closed in on Nariman House for a final assault and most of the residents chose to stay indoors.
The three places where the terrorists are holed up - Taj Hotel, Hotel Trident (Oberoi) and Nariman House - resembled battle zones with a huge contingent of police, the Army, Rapid Action Force, and the Anti-Terrorism Squad of Maharashtra present in and around their premises.
The roads in South Mumbai, the city's financial hub, which bore the brunt of the terror attacks, were deserted as they have been cordoned off for the final push to flush out terrorists and rescue hostages.
For the second day, wary people chose to stay indoors, hoping for an early end to the ordeal.
"My father did go to office today but I asked by mother to stay at home as her office is in Colaba. We have not switched off our television for I don't know how many hours," said 25-year-old Sunanda.
At Nariman House, the action seems to be nearing a decisive stage, as a huge build up for an offensive was witnessed.
At least three batches of NSG black cat commados were airdropped on the Nariman House roof.
RAF troops and other gun-totting security men were guarding the Taj Hotel, where NSG director general J K Dutt said that the operations were by and large over.
NSG have launched a room-to-room search at the plush Trident (Oberoi) hotel.