  We study the interplay of two distinct non-Hermitian parameters: directional
coupling and onsite gain-loss, together with topology, in coupled
one-dimensional (1D) non-Hermitian Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) chains. The SSH
model represents one of the simplest two-band models that features boundary
localized topological modes. Our study shows how the merging of two topological
modes can lead to a striking spectral feature of non-Hermitian systems, namely
exceptional point (EP). We reveal the existence EP as a singularity in the
parameter space of non-Hermitian couplings carrying a half-integer topological
charge. We also demonstrate two different localization behaviors observed in
the bulk and hybridized topological modes. While the bulk states and individual
topological modes remain localized at the boundaries due to skin effect, the
competition between the constituent non-Hermitian parameters can overcome the
strength of skin effect and lead to the complete \textit{delocalization} of
these hybridized modes. We obtain explicit analytic solutions for the
eigenfunction and the eigenenergy of the hybridized modes, which exactly match
the numerical results and successfully reveal the underlying cause of
delocalization and the emergence of EP.
