Can I tell you a story?
Once upon a time, there was a wizard who created a fantasy world.
You know, just like our smartphones and social media,
everybody got addicted to it and became prisoners in this fantasy world.
They didn't care what was happening in the world outside.
Because they're not living in that world, right?
Everyone forgot what it was to feel after living in this fake world so long.
How can there be love in a world that forgot to feel?
Can I tell you a story
about people searching for something real in an unreal world?
Here's a short story.
-This is a waste of my time. -Just five minutes, sir.
This is the world's biggest company. We could not refuse their invitation.
Where is everyone?
Welcome to X-life, General Koko.
Mr. Vik is waiting for you.
-If you could please follow me. -Okay.
Please step into the pod, sir.
Would you like to have your favorite cinnamon honey tea, General Koko?
How do you know that's my favorite?
Mr. Vik knows everything, sir.
Mr. Vik, I hope you have a very good reason for this meeting,
because I'm a very busy man. Okay?
I assure you, Mr. Koko, I have a very good reason for this meeting.
-You're Vik? -Yeah, I'm Vik.
It's actually Vikram Ramaswamy,
but then people called me Vik for so long, so now they're just all calling me Vik.
-You are Vik? -Yeah, I know I'm really young and shit.
Why don't you come here?
This is something cool that's happening.
You're witnessing nothing less than history right now.
Okay.
And…
No.
It's going to take us a few more minutes, I guess, but…
Four billion users on X-life. Four billion.
That's what, half of the world?
Anyway, it's nice to meet you, Mr. Koko. Finally.
We've been trying to sign a deal with your government for a while now.
-It's been hard. -We've made it hard, Mr. Vik.
We are very careful who we let into our country.
But trust me, Mr. Koko,
X-life guarantees millions of dollars of foreign investments--
Spare me your tall tales, Mr. Vik.
I don't want you to have any power in my country.
But… that's the funny thing about power isn't it, Mr. Koko?
It can't be created, nor can it be destroyed.
And we can really only give or take.
And you, sir, you don't seem like someone I can take power from.
-Have you tried X-life? -Hands off.
All right, all right. Has he tried X-life?
-No. -No?
You're here, so you might as well try it. Don't you think?
-Don't touch me. -All right.
You don't have to sign the papers…
-Okay. -…but I'd love for you to try it.
It's the new version,
the neural feedback on this is so much more sharper.
You're gonna love this.
You won't be needing those.
What's that?
-This? This is the console. -Okay.
Sweet. Setting up for General Koko.
And… off you go.
Are you okay, Mr. Koko?
It's a bit shaky for everyone in the beginning.
X-life syncs to the cortex, the part of the brain where you dream.
That's why it feels so real.
Welcome…
to X-life.
This is the most advanced virtual reality in the world.
You can live any life you can dream of.
There's no reason to go out to the other world anymore, Mr. Koko.
This is the new world.
Well, except to maybe eat once in a while.
Do you like that, Mr. Koko?
The ultimate shopping experiences.
Businesses love us.
Everything is for sale, and everyone is a customer.
You see, Mr. Koko, all people in the world,
they're nothing but data points.
It's as simple as that.
How we manipulate their data into making them do what we want.
Their insecurities, their anxieties, their fears.
X-life analyzes every single part of it.
What they look at, how long they look at it.
It can predict what you want before you yourself know it.
Very impressive, Mr. Vik.
But you know what? I'm not interested at all.
Now get me out of this place. How the hell do I get out of this place?
Mr. Koko, I just want you to see
how valuable all this can be for you as a government.
Adadi Koko, isn't it?
-My son! -Yeah.
He's been on X-life for about a year or something.
Interesting dude.
You want to see his preferences, his lifestyle?
This is the future, Mr. Koko.
Data is the new weapon.
Don't let your enemies get it before you.
That was fun, wasn't it, Mr. Koko?
And we're just in time. Come, get up.
So I hope you're ready to witness history, Mr. Koko.
Congratulations on four billion users.
Wow!
Four billion!
Four fucking billion!
So, Mr. Koko, you ready to join X-life finally?
All right.
Mic testing.
One, two, three, four billion.
Is everybody present and listening?
-Is everyone awake? Of course not. -Someone's hacked in.
This is a small break from the lie you're living every day.
Do you think you're using X-life?
-It's actually X-life that's using you. -What the hell is happening?
Don't you get it? Fight for your freedom.
Get out of X-life. Now.
Inquilab…
Do you think Koko would sign with us after this incident?
He just needed a hint that his son is gay. He'd sign his whole country to us.
Homophobia, that's his data point.
Now tell me, how the fuck were we hacked?
He's an employee of ours. We've caught him red-handed.
-He claims to be your friend. -My friend?
I don't have any…
Wait.
Neel.
Is that you under the beard?
We were at college together.
Good coder, but not as good as me, of course.
Dude, what are you up to?
Do you know how important my meeting was? Why did you do this?
To save something.
Okay. What are you saving?
Love.
Empathy, in layman's terms.
This is too much drama for 10:00 in the morning,
I can't deal with this shit.
He's under the influence of some sort of drug. Take care of him.
Have fun, bro.
Is there any drug more potent than X-life?
-Oh, man, I know what you're trying to do. -I don't think you do.
No, I do. I've heard it all, man.
X-life makes people fat. It makes them crazy, it makes them lazy.
Increase in depression, more violence, more suicides.
Dolphins, garbage, global warming. It's all my fucking fault. Right?
Dude, you can switch it off if you don't like it.
I'm not forcing anybody.
You know, I used to wonder why they sold cellphones for so cheap.
I understood then…
that they weren't selling phones but buying people.
They're increasing their business by increasing our insecurities.
Happiness isn't good for the economy, insecurity is.
And you've been selling that insecurity, Vikram.
X-life is a goddamn trap.
Fucking Robin Hood. You're trying to save them or what?
What's the problem if they're trapped in X-life's dreamworld
instead of a world they have no control over?
How long has it been since you've stepped out?
Do you even know how things are outside?
With the people addicted to X-life, the government is now a dictatorship.
You've destroyed the real world by trapping people in a fake world.
It's all because of X-life.
X-life, this technology, it's a disease.
It's killing the love within a person.
You know, Vik…
You're killing love.
Listen, since you brought up love,
do you know what love is?
It's not like the movies.
The honest and actual evolutionary purpose…
is to fuck, that's it.
Nature isn't concerned about falling in love or weddings.
It doesn't care.
All it wants us to do is to make babies.
Fuck, make babies, fuck, make babies,
and keep the entire species alive, man. There's no such thing called love.
-And that's exactly what they want. -What who wants?
The people who are controlling you.
You think I'm being controlled?
Vikram, Vikram, Vikram.
What do you think?
You think you became this powerful all by yourself?
Man, you're dumber than you look.
Open your eyes, Vikram.
News, television, Internet, smartphones, radio,
these are merely tools for them to use to control us.
Now you're here.
You're just a fucking puppet.
-You are their new tool. -Wow, man.
Puppet?
You've hacked my company.
You disturbed my meeting.
And now you're calling me a puppet?
You're really pissing me off, man.
Kranthi, you know me, I don't like torture or violence.
But, like, I think, I've got a really…
One sec.
Dude, you're going to really enjoy this thing.
Boop.
Neel, Neel, Neel.
Paralyzed.
He can see and hear us and all, but he's drowning in his own fears.
He's completely in terror.
I mean, it's different for everyone, but…
You. What are you most afraid of?
Dogs, sir.
And you?
-Water, sir. -Water.
Drowning.
So if our friend is afraid of the same things,
he must be drowning with his dogs in water or something.
Hi. Hi, man. Welcome back.
Mental torture.
This is going to make us a lot of money, man.
This is your last chance, Vikram.
My last chance? Kranthi, did you hear what he just said?
Shut down X-life.
Okay.
Find out if there is anybody else in on this with him.
Scan the entire system again.
He might have left us a few more surprises.
Please! Please let me go, sir.
I'm sorry, I won't do it again.
-I need this job. -What's happening?
She works in the kitchens, sir. We caught her stealing food.
I'm sorry.
-Let her off with a warning. -Yes, sir.
Please get out.
Computer,
list all kitchen employees.
Where are you?
There you are.
-Hey, Vik. -Did you get my mail?
Yeah, I got it. Right now?
-Yeah, right now. -Yes, sir.
Bro. Bro, you've got to help me out.
Bro. You're my last hope, bro.
-Please-- -Dude, I write software code.
This isn't my job.
Bro, but you’re the best at baiting the audience.
Nobody can manipulate them better than you.
But it's not my job to increase your biscuit sales.
-It's my first and last favor. -Please.
Remember that I had helped you when you first started X-life.
I don't know what I'll do.
-You've got to help me out. -Okay.
You've got to give me an idea, man,
-or I'll go bankrupt. -Fine, man.
Sit down. Check this out.
Look.
Here, put it on.
Look at that. Not one interaction.
We tried everything, bro. We did the whole chocolate licking thing.
We had them licking chocolate off each other.
I mean, these girls are pretty much naked, man.
-To sell biscuits? -Dude.
Back then, we could make sales just by showing some celebrity's boob,
and making them lick their lips.
Now, people are fucking numb to this.
It's because it's too obvious.
I like what you're saying.
Less sexy.
Okay, okay.
Sanskari sexy!
Dude, I like your drift. Give me more.
Not quite exactly, but I think I have something for you, man.
Show me.
There she is.
Who the fuck is this, bro?
Your new model, man.
Dude, are you trying to fuck me over or something?
She looks so normal.
That's the point, bro.
People are tired of fantasizing about these perfect ten models.
They want to fantasize about someone real.
Someone they feel like they know, someone familiar.
That's a pretty cool tattoo.
Hi. What's your name?
-Divya, sir. -Hi, Divya. I'm Vikram.
-Sir. -Congratulations, you're now a model.
-Kranthi. -Sir.
-Kranthi, scan her. -Yes, sir.
Okay, man, I'm leaving.
Are you trying to help me or fuck me over? What is this?
-Dude, chill out. -What the hell, man?
-What is all this? -Chill. I got you, man.
Let me show it to you.
-I don't understand. -Sit.
Look, it's not going to work.
She's so normal. Nobody will even look at her.
Wait, wait.
What the fuck?
How is it possible?
-Damsel in distress. -Thank you.
It's the oldest trick in the book. It always works, man.
People are always looking to save someone.
I like it.
-Vik! Broski loves you, bro! -Chill out.
-Seriously, I owe you one. -Oh, shit, Jesus.
-Yeah, we are all good. Bye now. -Damsel in distress!
Let's sell some biscuits!
-Divya. -Sir?
Hey, Divya…
Where to?
To the kitchens, sir.
No. You're fired.
And rehired.
-As my personal assistant, of course. -Sir, but…
See, let me be honest.
I don't quite require a personal assistant.
But I really like you.
Do you want to have dinner sometime?
You can say no.
You don't have to worry. You'll still have the job.
Yeah? Awesome!
Kranthi, arrange for a new wardrobe, new quarters,
and everything else. Please.
Cool, Divya, I'll see you at dinner.
Do you like it?
I didn't think you meant this when you said dinner.
Okay. Somewhere a little more casual then.
So, is this better for you?
It's just that…
I thought you meant real dinner, like real food.
Like, the hungry dinner?
-Yeah. -Cool.
Hey, Divya.
I've made a reservation at a killer restaurant.
Let's go.
Calculating the shortest route to the restaurant.
It's been so long since I've come to this part of the city, man.
It's pretty much like this everywhere now. It's just all falling apart.
Is it my fault?
Are you blaming it on X-life?
No, no, it's not like you're forcing people to use it.
Exactly!
You just get me, Divya.
Let me be honest and get to the point.
I'm just really attracted to you, man.
It's like I know you, man. You're so familiar.
Do you know what I mean?
I don't know, sir. It's all just happening so fast. I mean…
Yeah, I sort of like that.
Also, Divya, you have to stop calling me "sir."
-You can ask me to stop, and I'll stop. -Please stop.
-I want to go back please. -It's all right--
-Can we go back, please? -Yeah.
Let's go back to HQ, please.
Returning to HQ.
If you don't mind…
can I take you to a place for dinner?
Damn.
It's my own building and I haven't been up here, man.
It's beautiful, Divya. It really is.
This is my most favorite place in the whole world.
What is this?
Dinner.
This is dinner?
It's the people around us that make dinner special, not the food.
So, Divya, how long have you been with us?
X-life…
I think… three months.
And before that?
I worked different jobs.
Being a single girl,
I cannot stay at one place for long.
Too much unwanted attention.
What about the family?
My mother passed away when I was young.
My father brought me up.
He worked really hard to take care of me, but…
Three years back, he…
-I'm so sorry. -Yeah.
So… you don't have anybody?
No.
Everybody tried taking advantage of me after my father passed away.
Never felt safe.
And I also think I kind of attracted the wrong kind of people.
So no boyfriends or…
I don't know, husbands?
If I had a boyfriend,
why would I share my favorite place and my special sandwich with you?
This is quite a bad special sandwich, Divya.
Sorry.
Good job on the wardrobe, Kranthi.
What's up?
Sir, X-life is now the world's largest data center.
How special are you feeling?
It isn't about the place. It's about the people you share it with.
Sir, a lot of people have tried shutting down X-life.
What is your response to that?
Dude, I actually feel sorry for them. They keep trying and failing.
X-life is four billion strong.
Vik!
Divya!
Go get help.
Now they've gone too far, Divya. They've hurt you.
Sir, we're investigating. Soon we will find out--
How the fuck did you let this happen, Kranthi?
It was your responsibility, man.
She could've died.
Vik.
You could've died.
Let Kranthi be. It's not his fault.
-Get the fuck out of here. -Vik--
-Sir, please, try to listen to-- -Get out.
-Why are they trying to kill you? -I don't know, Divya.
There are a few groups that don't like X-life or something.
They think X-life is destroying humanity and the society.
They think if they can kill me, they can stop all this.
And can they?
No, the core pretty much runs everything by itself.
Honestly, it doesn't even need me anymore.
So they would target the core or whatever?
Yeah, I mean, they can try, but, like,
we've spent millions of dollars on its security.
No one even knows where it is. It's the safest place on Earth.
-Shit. Divya. -It's just my hand.
Divya, are you okay?
Yeah.
I still can't believe you took a bullet for me, Divya.
Computer, locate Divya.
Searching.
Security.
Searching.
If you see Divya, ask her to call me right away.
Searching.
Kranthi, have you seen--
Vik, where are you? I need to speak with you urgently.
Did you happen to meet Divya? Divya and I had an incident.
Tell me where you are. I'll be there immediately.
Kranthi, you're fucking fired.
Divya!
Get down from there, Divya! What are you doing, Divya?
Have you gone mad?
What are you doing?
This always happens to me.
It's okay. Now Kranthi is gone.
-He's gone, look-- -No, no!
Look! Listen to me.
You know…
you remind me so much of her, amma.
She'd starve herself so that I could eat.
I couldn't protect her, right?
But I'll protect you.
I'll do everything I can.
I'll do everything I can to protect you, Divya.
I love you, Vik. Please take me somewhere safe, please.
Please keep me safe. Please.
Come.
Welcome, Vik.
This is it, Divya.
It's the heart of X-life.
The core.
Divya, I haven't brought anyone else up here.
I told you I'll protect you, right?
It's the safest place in the world.
Can you close the door?
Everything is going so perfectly,
now that I have you in my life.
And with X-life, we're going to change the world, Divya.
We're going to be unstoppable, man.
I know.
That's why I have to stop you.
This is life, Vik.
Very unpredictable and very crazy.
But that's what makes us human, Vik.
Not fake like X-life.
You must be figuring this out by now. You really are a smart guy.
You're always saying that people are just their data points.
Without their knowledge, and yet with their own data,
you know just how to control them.
Do you remember Neel?
Well, he gathered your data points, your soft spots.
You like tall, fair women.
With sharp faces, messy hair, and tattoos.
You remember your mother struggling to put food on the table.
Hunger.
That's your thing.
Your dad was abusive, and you couldn't protect your mother.
And she also never felt… safe.
Neel planned everything.
He brought you into the detention center at the same time that I was there.
The shooting, the fight with Kranthi, every single thing…
has led us…
to this moment.
He manipulated you.
Just like you've manipulated billions of people.
My poor baby.
You really loved me.
It's ironic.
The only way to save love…
was to make the guy who destroyed love…
fall in love.
Power cannot be created or destroyed, Vik.
It can only be transferred.
And I'm transferring it back to the people.
Can I tell you a story?
A story of people who found small joys in the real world
than big lies in a fantasy.
A short story.