Attacks by terrorists have been a staple of Mumbai’s contemporary history, but each time the city, bloodied and broken, has gotten up and moved on.

It has done so in March 1993 when over 250 were killed in a number of bombings on the stock exchange, trains and hotels.

It moved on when in August 2003 when two taxies were loaded with explosives and blew up near a crowded market. Death toll: fifty.

Again, in July 2006 bombs blew apart packed commuter trains and platforms during rush hour. Number of people killed: 209.

There’s no reason why this time would be any different.

''Am I being more careful when I go out? No, not at all. Why would I change my habits?'' said resident Netra Parikh Saturday. ''I'm a proud citizen and I'll face and fight for anything that comes my way.''

Gunmen stormed nine locations in a daring series of coordinated attacks on Wednesday. The aftermath left more than 195 dead.

Authorities locked down the city, whose population numbers 13 million, and asked that citizens stay in their homes on Thursday. Mumbai’s stock market (the city is India’s financial center) was closed, as well as schools and colleges. The city also houses Bollywood – the world’s most prolific movie industry.

"I think I'm still in a state of shock, sort of," said blogger Arun Shanghag that day. "I'm still very cold today. I'm just like, (I) want to take pictures and I just want to document this today. I think it has changed me. I hope it does not."

The next day, Mumbai, battered as it was, got back together. The stock market reopened as well as some businesses. Most high-court judges tried cases, but adjourned court after several lawyers and litigants showed up. More common folks stepped out, scared but defiant of terror. False rumors of shots being fired at a railway station sent many panicking again however.

Come Saturday morning, not content with TV reports of the hostage crisis, a large crowd gathered outside the Taj Mahal hotel, the last location to be cleared of gunmen by police after a long battle. They cheered officers on by singing "Bharat mata ki jai" (Glory to Mother India).

The hotel building, a century old historic landmark of Mumbai went up in flames, and that was hard to see for many citizens, says Dina Mehta.

"There's a lot of sentiment associated with that structure," she said. "It's part of our cultural heritage. People can't get past those kinds of visuals."

After 60 hours of fear and combat, the siege was finally over on Saturday after officers cleared the Taj Mahal.

The residents now inhabit a demoralized city, which will need to turn its helplessness and frustration into an effort to carry on.

"I went to the hospital and there were a lot of people donating blood," said resident Asfaq Tapia. "It was really wonderful to see so many people come out and help."

Mehta said many people she’d spoken with over social networking sites like Twitter plan to meet at Café Leopold for beer on Sunday. The popular tourist location was one of the first targeted by gunmen.

"We can't let this get to us. Life has to go on," she said. "Most of us haven't ever met each other but when you go through something like this, you want a big hug."