🎶That's my demon way. That's my demon way.🎶

Click. The alarm goes off at 6 am. The first thing I do in the morning right after waking up is to study the topic which I find the most challenging and that requires my complete focus. I don't get up until I finish studying the topic or the hour hand points at 8 am.

Till 8:45 am, it's time for brushing my teeth, half an hour of intense workout, breakfast and a cold bath. I wanted to avoid spending time on exercise but I had to strengthen this weak human body for unforeseen circumstances.

Even during these 45 minutes, I try to consume as much knowledge as I can. Like, while brushing and in the rests In-between sets. During any activity that doesn't require my mental focus, I combine it with studying which mostly consists of tiny doses of information. Information that is volatile and has to be revised multiple times. Formulas in physics, charts and tables in chemistry, scientific names of plants in botany and zoology.

This is the morning routine I had put together and adapted to, in the remaining 5 days of my suspension.

It is a fifteen-minute walk from my home to college, which I utilize to scan through the lessons to be taught on that day. I always reach college on time, sometimes late but never early. I also avoid greeting or running into someone from my class.

I attracted a few eyes to my arrival in the class after the incident that took place before my one week of suspension. I sat down on my seat and took out my physics textbook. Mr. Piyush entered the class and wrote the words 'Laws of Motion' on the blackboard. He looked at me for a second before returning his gaze to the board. His face still looked somewhat swollen.

After his threat to expel me, I imagined he would do something to cause me trouble or at least torment me during his lectures. Maybe he changed his mind and admitted that the suspension was enough punishment for me.

"Before starting the lecture," he stood on the podium and turned towards us, "Next week, in preparation for the AIATS (All India Advanced Test Series), there will be a short test with problems from all four subjects. The syllabus for the test will include everything that has been taught in class. I'm sure that some of you have already started studying, but I just wanted to remind you."

"Test? It has only been less than two weeks since college started." Rahul wailed. Obviously, tests were an important part of student life, but the time given for the preparation was what troubled me. For everyone else, it had been two weeks, but I had only attended college for two days.

"That means there's only a week to prepare for the test. I might have to cut down on my precious morning sleep. Thank God, it's just a short test." said Rahul, letting out a relieved sigh.

"I forgot to tell you one thing," Mr. Piyush's voice cut through the students' chitchat, "Those who score less than 75 percent in this test will be immediately expelled from the college." He turned his gaze towards me, a twisted smile flashed across his face.

The whole class was thrown into chaos. "How can he forget the most important part!?" exclaimed Rahul.

Is this test his plan to expel me from college? I guess, him changing his mind was too much to ask for. But what is he planning to do? I mean he can't do anything if I just sincerely study and pass the test.

We didn't get much time to absorb this bomb that had been dropped on us, as Mr. Piyush had already begun with the lecture.