India, Aug. 30 -- Once upon a time, there was a young girl who, like millions of other girls her age, had dreams in her eyes. Her parents called her Charulata, but to her friends and the wider world, she was known as Charu.

Raised in a beautiful home in Malabar Hill, one of India's most exclusive and prestigious residential districts in South Mumbai, she often gazed at the Arabian Sea, dreaming of her future. Naturally caring, she was sometimes teased by her sister and friends for being overly emotional and easily moved by others' pain. At a very young age, she developed a deep faith in God. Later, when facing challenges that might have overwhelmed most, she persevered. Her faith in God remained unwavering.

This book is her extraordinar...