Abstract: A system is provided that ensures read-after-write consistency. During operation, the system receives, from a user, a write to a record having a primary key in a master key-value store, wherein the write specifies a secondary key for the record. The system then caches the secondary key and the primary key in a cache entry in a cache, wherein the cache entry is associated with the user. Next, the system applies the write to the master key-value store. Prior to propagation of the write from the master key-value store to a derived key-value store that maps secondary keys to primary keys, the system receives from a given user a query for the record, the query comprising the secondary key and not the primary key. Next the system translates the secondary key to the primary key by querying the cache when the given user is the user.