By Shailendra Singh
April 14, 2050
Some days still feel surreal. Like today.
I woke up not to an alarm, but to the soft voice of Aarav, my AI assistant. He didn’t buzz or beep. He just spoke, like an old friend gently nudging me awake:
“Chai is ready, Shailendra. Sunrise starts in 10 minutes.”And yes, sunrise is a scheduled thing now. My window—powered by climate-reactive tech—adjusts its tint based on pollution levels and natural light. Delhi skies, by the way, are cleaner than they’ve been in 40 years. Who would’ve guessed?
Chai, but Not Like You Know It
My mornings used to start with boiling water and WhatsApp scrolls. Now? A smart kettle makes my chai exactly the way I like it: kadak, with a hint of ginger and zero sugar. Meanwhile, my personalized news feed floats as a light projection on the kitchen wall.
Every story, every update, curated based on my mood, sleep cycle, and what I’m working on today.
Remote Work, the Indian Way
I didn’t go to work. I stepped into it—literally.
My workspace is a virtual dome, and my co-workers appear as 3D avatars around a digital table. Riya joins from Coorg, while Amar dials in from a floating capsule near the edge of space. We’re building the next version of a meditation app that syncs with your heart rate and emotional state. Work feels more like co-creating now, less like surviving.
Chai Break = Hologram Gully
Around 11 AM, I head to the nearest Holo-Chai Gully. No joke—it’s an actual virtual lane that appears in local parks or rooftops. A hologram of “Chaiwala Bhaiya” greets me like always:
“Bhaiya, strong wali banayi hai, tension mat lena.”Behind him, the system prints real chai using bio-materials and heat capsules. The taste? Close enough to street-side magic. And the vibe? Pure nostalgia with a futuristic twist.
Lunch with Maa (from 300 Miles Away)
Maa lives in Jaipur. I live in Delhi. But we eat lunch together almost every day.
She sets her smart table, I set mine, and we connect through full-size holograms. It’s not just a video call—it feels like she’s across from me. We argue about my posture, talk about who she saw at the temple, and laugh over some viral remix of Hanuman Chalisa that’s trending again.
Evening = Digital Street Show + Mars Check-In
Evenings are a blend of old and new. Kids play cricket with smart bats that give instant feedback on swing power and technique. Aunties still gossip—but now while power-walking on solar paths that charge their health bands.
And me? I spend a couple of hours consulting for a Martian wellness program. Basically, I design soundscapes and digital sunsets for people living on Mars. (Yes, we have a small colony now.)
The Night Sky Still Matters
By 10 PM, I switch everything off.
Literally—no screens, no pings, no AI assistant hovering. Just the night air and a real sky. Delhi twinkles differently now. Cleaner, quieter, still chaotic—but in a way that feels…balanced.
Final Thoughts
India in 2050 didn’t become a sci-fi movie. It became something else. A place where tech doesn’t replace emotion—it extends it. Where chai still matters, moms still check in, and the sky is still worth looking at.
Progress didn’t kill our culture. It just gave it more tools.
Tagline (for Google Discover optimization):
Chai by drone, lunch with a hologram, and a job on Mars—welcome to daily life in India, 2050.
