Kriti and Lalith started segregating the pictures based on different face angles for the algorithm's data and immediately sent them to the cloud for the coders to access and start using them.
"This is a right-side-angled picture."
"This is a centre-faced one. What about this?"
"This should be considered in the left lower corner angle."
The boys tweaked their algorithm for the current situation.
"How about we add some codes to show how long and where he was?"
"That sounds good. Let's add some codes to see how many times he has been with a person in the library."
While searching for other photos through the countless DMs from different people, Kriti found a notification from three hours ago. It was from Jaya, through social media.
'Hi. This is Jaya Chatterjee. Siddharth's girlfriend and Jasmine's best friend. I would like to talk to you about something. If you have some time to spare, then please call on this number: +91 7oooooooo0. This is my number.'
"Lalith, take care of the rest. I'll be back after taking a quick call." Kriti said.
Lalith said, "Sure, make it quick. We have too many pictures here."
Kriti nodded in agreement and walked out of the lab. She copied the number to her clipboard and called.
The phone rang for some time, and Jaya picked up.
"Hi. Who is this?" She asked.
"It's me. Kriti. Student Head." Kriti said and folded her arms.
"Oh, hello. I was waiting for your call. I wanted to talk to you about something important. I hope you're not too busy at the moment." Jaya asked nervously.
"Not at all. Please go ahead." Kriti said, in her usual student helpline manner.
"Well, if I am not wrong, Jasmine talked to you regarding her situation last night." Jaya asked tentatively and continued, "Well, Siddharth and I have been probing for information for months now and found out about the situation by, uhm, eavesdropping on your conversation." Jaya said guiltily.
Kriti's face flushed red with yesterday's memories in Jasmine's room. She had been carefully avoiding her thoughts on last night in Jasmine's room the whole time. Her room smelt of fresh coffee and warmth even if it was cold outside and lights were switched off. Her bedsheets smelt of lavender, just like her body odour. Her frizzy hair and ragged breath made Kriti giddy and sensual.
Fanning her hot embarrassed and clearing her throat, Kriti said, "Well, she was a bit drunk and upset, so she had her guard down around me."
"Oh, that's what happened. No wonder. She told a complete stranger and didn't even tell her cousin, let alone her best friend. We had to eavesdrop." Jaya grumbled.
Kriti reflected on that. In the end of the day, she was just another stranger, another passerby in Jasmine's life. No, now she was a one night stand stranger to Jasmine.
"Well, we are currently investigating Manaav in the charge of drug abuse. Adding another count in it will be helpful." Kriti said.
"So how do we go about it?" Jaya asked.
"You have to log into the student portal and file an official complaint against Manaav on the Student Council Helpline. It helps in keeping a trail of paperwork and instigate an official investigation." Kriti said.
"But that's as good as a slap on the wrist. We want something bigger." Jaya protested.
"That is basic procedure. The real deal comes after that. Once he can be successfully removed from the Student Council, he is all yours to take care off." Kriti said with an air of ambiguity, hinting something deeper that Jaya caught on.
"So you say, once he is kicked out the council, he will no longer have the protection nor the power that he currently has. So, the student council can turn a blind eye if something happens to him after that." Jaya said cautiously.
"Something like that, until the person in question asks for investigation." Kriti affirmed.
"Ok. How can I help you with the task in hand?" Jaya formed an alliance with Kriti.
"Can you find out why Manaav didn't choose to study in Delhi and came to Bangalore?" Kriti ordered.
"I'll find out. Anything else?" Jaya said.
"Not for now." Kriti thought for a while and said.
Both spoke for few more minutes and hung up the call.
On returning, Kriti found everyone crowding over the computer and were murmuring.
"What's going on?" Kriti asked as she pushed in to get to the monitor.
Everyone parted and let her reach the monitor.
In the monitor, she saw that made her jaw drop the floor. Five hundred and more snippets of videos featuring Manaav just based on the library cameras. The item's counter just kept adding numbers and didn't seem to stop. Finally, at three thousand four hundred and fifteen did the counter stop.
"Damn. When did you guys finish the code?" Kriti asked.
"Not long ago. The amount of pictures you guys had given us was good enough for a very basic face recognition. Rest was our magic." The coders gleamed with pride.
Everyone gave thumbs up at them and the coders started to bask at the beams of praises.
"Working on snippets will be much faster. Let's get to work." The boys roared.
"Yeah, let's see whether we can catch that guy."
"Segregate the videos based on dates on different folders. If you guys,incase, find something other than his drugs session, can you mark them too? It will be even better." Lalith requested.
"Sure. That's an easy task." They agreed.
While everyone was glued to the monitor, analysing every snippet, Kriti and Lalith bought teas, coffees, snacks and literal lunch for the boys. By the time everyone finished the segregation, it was 5 pm. They handed Kriti a pen drive and said, "This is the total. There is surprise for you two in there. Better get this guy. It's guys like this who give men a bad name."
The pen drive in Kriti's hand felt heavier that it should feel.