The story of a Scientist from the Future
January 31, 2049
London Technological Wellness Summit
The packed auditorium erupted in applause as Dr. Vikram Singh stepped onto the stage. The organizers led him to a chair at the center of the stage. He sat down, nodding politely at the audience. Scientists, academics, and tech enthusiasts leaned forward, eager to hear from the man expected to win the Nobel Prize in a few weeks.
After everyone had settled down, the host began his introduction. He spoke about Vikram’s achievements, his work in helping people overcome digital addiction, and the success of his treatment centers worldwide. Vikram barely listened. He knew his history better than anyone else, especially the dark and hidden pages no one else knew about.
The Nobel Prize announcement was due any day now. But the real story of how he got here started thirty years ago, during the pandemic.
The Rise of Digital Addiction
In 2019, when the world went into lockdown, people became more dependent on digital devices. Phones, laptops, and social media became their only connection to the outside world. Big tech companies took advantage of this, making apps even more addictive. Platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram kept people hooked for hours, turning their attention into profit. Children born during this time were the most affected. Growing up with screens, many developed a new kind of addiction.
Dr. Vikram Singh, who had studied psychiatry at Harvard, saw the problem early. He spent years researching digital addiction and warning about its dangers. While others ignored him, he continued his work and, in 2025, opened the world’s first digital addiction treatment center in London.
When WHO finally acknowledged digital addiction as a chronic disease in 2030, Dr. Vikram Singh became the flag bearer for the disease, providing guidance on how to prevent the addiction at an early stage.
At first, few people cared. But as addiction rates soared, his center gained attention. His methods worked, and soon, his centers became famous for curing patients in just a few weeks.
The next two decades, Dr. Vikram Singh opened twenty-three centers across multiple countries, worked on spreading awareness and also treated thousands of patients while he himself became a billionaire, even though he hardly mentioned it in public. By 2050, he planned to have fifty centers worldwide.
However, it was a year ago that he uncovered something that totally disrupted all his gained wisdom.
Some patients, those with the worst addiction, reacted differently to his treatment. They would go silent for days, refusing to eat or drink. During these phases, they showed unusual abilities—things that science couldn’t explain.
One specific case that he was currently treating at his London facility was a guy named Mark Johnson, who had a military background and was once the country’s defense minister. He got mixed up in a scam, due to which he lost his position and was confined to his home for the next few years. It was during this time that he got completely addicted to his devices and was later admitted to Vikram’s facility in London.
Vikram had gotten him through the regular treatment process and had him put on a complete detox with no contact with any devices for a few months. At this point, the guy went into total silence, falling in line with the dangerous pattern.
Mark wasn’t the only one. Across Vikram’s centers, six patients showed similar signs. The most chilling moment came two weeks ago.
Vikram was watching security footage of these patients on different screens when, at the exact same moment, they all looked up at the camera and made a peace sign with their hands. It was as if they were connected.
As Dr. Vikram was contemplating if he should reveal these discoveries to the outside world and seek the help of other scientists, the news broke out that Dr. Vikram was about to be awarded the Nobel Prize. Should he reveal the truth now? Would the world even believe him?
“We now open the floor for questions,” the host announced, bringing Vikram back to the present. Hands shot up across the room. The first question came from an elderly woman in the front row.
“Dr. Vikram, how can people avoid digital addiction?”
Vikram answered smoothly.
“Technology is a tool. It can help us or trap us. The key is awareness. If your screen time goes beyond four to six hours daily, it’s a warning sign. Here’s how we classify addiction:
Level 1: Four to six hours of screen time. Easy to treat.
Level 2: Six to ten hours. Needs a month of treatment.
Level 3: More than ten hours. Causes severe problems and unpredictable effects.
Catching addiction early is much easier than treating it later.”
As Dr. Vikram completed answering the question, so many other hands shot up, requesting a chance to shoot their questions.
The next question came from a man at the back. “Doctor, what do you mean by ‘unpredictable effects’ in Level 3 patients?”
Vikram’s stomach tightened. Choosing his words carefully, he said, “Level 3 patients have severe withdrawal symptoms. Standard treatments don’t always work. Their cases remain a challenge. That’s why early action is important.”
He exhaled, relieved to have avoided the real answer. But his relief didn’t last long.
The next person to ask a question was in the corner of the auditorium and Dr. Vikram wasn’t able to see his face clearly. The guy was silent for a moment and then slowly stood up on his seat.
A few other people also stood up from different parts of the stadium. As Dr. Vikram looked around, he was shocked that all those standing faces looked strangely familiar to him.
The first man chuckled, a slow, eerie laugh that sent chills through the room. “Hello, Dr. Vikram,” he said, his voice filled with menace.
It was then that Dr. Vikram realized that the guy was one of his Level 3 patients who was supposed to be locked in isolation in Australia and the others were also his Level 3 patients.
The lights flickered and went out. Panic spread. People screamed. Vikram sat frozen, his mind racing. Footsteps approached him from behind, slow and deliberate. Then, a voice whispered in his ear that sounded calm but terrifying.
“Welcome to the world of Level 3.”
Everything went black.