function get_comments() {
        $buffy = '';


            $num_comments = get_comments_number($this->post->ID); // get_comments_number returns only a numeric value

            if ( comments_open() ) {
                if ($num_comments >= 1) {
                    if (td_util::get_option('tds_p_show_comments') != 'hide') {
                        $buffy .= '<div class="td-module-comments">';
                        $buffy .= '<a href="' . get_comments_link($this->post->ID) . '">';
                        $buffy .= $num_comments;
                        $buffy .= '</a>';
                        $buffy .= '</div>';
                    }
                }
            }

        return $buffy;
    }